Akash S. Madhavan

Akash was born to Sethumadhavan and Geetha at Melattur in Malappuram district of Kerala.^[2] He is suffering from achondroplasia, a genitic disorder that causes dwarfism.^[3] His height is only 130 cm.^[2] His primary education was at Valluvanad Vidya Bhavan HSS in Perinthalmanna. It was U. K. Haridas, the physical education teacher there who encouraged him to take up athletics.^[2] He passed Class 10 and 12 with a first class.^[3] After completing degree in automobile engineering from Tamil Nadu College of Engineering, Coimbatore, he got a job as a service center advisor in an automobile company, but was rejected due to his short height.^[4]

Along with his father, Akash runs a business of Ayurvedic and beauty products in Perinthalmanna.^[5]

Akash contested from ward 15 of Melattur grama panchayat as a BJP candidate in the 2020 Kerala local elections.^[6] Currently, he is also the BJP's Malappuram district sports cell convener.^[1]

Akash is married to Devi Siti Sendari, a native of Surabaya, Indonesia.^[7] Their wedding took place at the Thirumandhamkunnu Bhagavathy Temple in Angadipuram.^[7]

In the World Dwarf Games in 2013, Akash won silver in shotput and bronze in discus throw and in the 2017 games, he won bronze in the javelin throw.^[3] He also won gold in badminton doubles in the National Para-Badminton Championship.^[6]