Para-badminton star Manasi Joshi slams Harbhajan Singh, Suresh Raina for mocking people with physical disabilities

Para-badminton star Manasi Joshi has slammed former India cricketers Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh and Suresh Raina, accusing them of hurting the sentiments of people with physical disabilities.

Manasi expressed her disappointment over a recent Instagram reel featuring both the former cricketers. In the reel, Harbhajan Singh, Suresh Raina as well as Yuvraj Singh could be seen celebrating the India Champions' victory in the recently-concluded World Championship of Legends with peculiar dance moves.

The former India cricketers were seen limping in a comical manner while grooving to the latest Bollywood chartbuster, Tauba Tauba. Harbhajan Singh shared the reel on his official Instagram page with the caption: "Body ki Tauba Tauba ho Gayi in 15 days legends cricket. Every part of the body is sore."

Manasi Joshi slams former India cricketers:

While the reel did leave a number of fans in splits, many have also found it distasteful. And Manasi was not impressed with the reel either. The badminton star was quick to criticize the former cricketers for mocking the gait patterns of people with disability.

Manasi also criticised those appreciating the actions of the cricketers as she reminded the Indian cricket stars of the consequences their actions could have. She stated that such an irresponsible action from stars like former India cricketers could also lead to young children with disabilities getting bullied.

"Wanted more responsibility from the stars that you all are, please do not mock at the gait patterns of people with disabilities. This isn’t funny," Manasi wrote in the comment section of Harbhajan Singh's post.

"You don’t know how much harm your behaviour can do. The appreciation you’re getting from people around is appalling to see. This reel of yours is going to encourage that it is ok to make fun of the walking patterns of people with disabilities for a few laughs.

"More young children with disabilities will be bullied by using this reel. If any of you athletes would have done responsible community service in disability space area, you all would not have come up with this reel. I’m scared how the PR agencies of these athletes approved this reel for public platform.

"I’m really disappointed in you @harbhajan3 @sureshraina3 and all the people in the comments section who are appropriating this reel," Manasi added.

In another comment, Manasi wrote: "This isn’t legendary if you’re mocking gait patterns of people with polio. This will enable bullying on young children with disabilities in India."

Meanwhile, Harbhajan Singh was quick to realize his mistake and issued an apology as well. The India legend has deleted the reel and has issued a statement too in which he clarified that his intention was not to hurt anyone's sentiments.

Talking about the World Championship of Legends, the India Champions beat Pakistan Champions by 5 wickets in the final to win the trophy. Batting first, Pakistan scored 156/6 in 20 overs with Shoaib Malik (41) top-scoring with the bat. For India, Anureet Singh picked up 3 wickets.

With the bat, India chased down the total in 19.1 overs thanks to a fine fifty from Ambati Rayudu (50) and notable contributions from the likes of Gurkeerat Singh Mann (34) and Yusuf Pathan (30).