A Childhood Marked by Polio
At six years old, Maya Bhammar’s life changed overnight. A fever. A village injection. The next morning, he could no longer use his legs.
For four years, he stayed home, uncertain and withdrawn. His family, farmers from Bhavnagar, struggled to understand how to rebuild his future. Relief came when his parents enrolled him in a residential school in Veraval for children with disabilities. The school provided free education, accommodation, and meals. It became his first step back into the world.
After completing Class 8 there, Maya moved to Gandhinagar for higher schooling and later pursued a BA in sociology from L D Arts College in Ahmedabad.
Finding Strength at Blind People’s Association
During college, Maya discovered the Blind People’s Association in Ahmedabad. The institution became more than a support center. It became his second home.
He completed vocational courses in tailoring, stenography, and desktop publishing through BPA’s government-supported ITI programs. Today, he teaches design and DTP to other students at the institute while earning a stipend.
Teaching gives him purpose. It also sustains his independence.
The Shift to Powerlifting
Maya entered para powerlifting in 2019 at age 20. Watching other athletes at BPA compete pushed him to act. He chose a sport that relied on upper-body strength.
“I cannot use my legs, but my arms and shoulders are fine,” he says.
The results followed steadily:
- Silver at the Gujarat State Para Powerlifting Championship for three consecutive years
- Bronze at the 2023 Khelo India Para Games
- Silver at the 23rd Senior National Para Powerlifting Championship 2025–26
In January 2026, competing in the Senior Men’s 49 kg category, he lifted 115 kg to secure national silver. Official records list him as Bhammar Mayabhai Lomabhai.
He now trains two hours daily, focusing on upper-body strength. BPA supports his registration fees, travel, and training equipment.
Discipline Behind the Medal
Meanwhile, Maya Bhammar competes in the 41–49 kg category and follows strict dietary discipline to stay competition-ready. He maintains his weight at 46 kg to remain within official limits.
To support this goal, he avoids fried foods and sweets entirely. His daily diet centres on sprouts, vegetables, fruits, and paneer, while hostel staff at BPA adjust meals when needed to protect his training routine.
Even during the COVID lockdown, when gyms shut down, he refused to pause preparation. He improvised relentlessly, climbing trees for pull-ups, lifting sacks of bricks, and crafting cement dumbbells for strength work.
Through it all, the discipline never broke.
A Delivery Partner at Night
Maya’s life extends beyond sport.
In 2021, he became the first delivery partner with a disability hired by Zomato in Ahmedabad. He works from 7 pm to 10 pm using a customized battery-operated scooter designed to carry his foldable wheelchair and food parcels.
He earns around Rs 5,000 a month, which funds his specialized nutrition as an athlete.
He calls customers before delivery and requests that they collect their parcels downstairs. Most cooperate.
Independence matters to him as much as medals.
A Larger Ambition
Maya Bhammar’s para powerlifting is no longer a local story. His silver medal marks a steady national ascent. His maximum lift stands at 115 kg, and his trajectory suggests more.
He wants gold for India.
He trains with that clarity.
The journey from polio at six to the national podium at twenty-seven carries one constant. Refusal to accept limitation.
Image courtesy Mayabhai Bhammar & Blind People’s Association
