Dr. Rushikesh Malave [PT],
THE RISE OF A HEMOPHILIA CHAMPION REDEFINING STRENGTH FOR GENERATIONS.
Limitations imposed by nature may become stumbling blocks in one’s life, but they can never suppress the human spirit when it is driven by a meaningful purpose. This truth is powerfully reflected in the extraordinary journey of Dr. Rushikesh Malave [PT], a young man with severe Hemophilia-A, who transformed personal adversity into national sporting excellence and professional distinction.
Diagnosed at just two years of age with Hemophilia-A, a genetic deficiency of Factor VIII. Rushikesh’s childhood was marked by repeated internal bleeding episodes in multiple joints, particularly in the knees and ankles. By the age of nine, frequent joint bleeds left him physically disabled. He was admitted to KEM Hospital, Mumbai, where clinicians determined that the joint damage was permanent and informed his family that he might never regain normal walking ability. He was subsequently provided with a wheelchair and issued a disability certificate. Yet, destiny took a decisive turn when Dr. Kirti Kene Patil introduced a single ray of hope i.e. regular, structured physical exercise.
With no trained professionals or scientific guidance available in his hometown Pusad, Rushikesh began carefully experimenting on his own body. Some attempts failed, many caused setbacks, but each experience became a lesson. Over the next 11 years of relentless discipline, exercise slowly restored his mobility. Today, he can walk normally and stands physically and mentally stronger than most able-bodied individuals.
EDUCATION BEFORE ACCOLADES
Parallel to his physical battle, Rushikesh never abandoned academics. He completed his Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharm) from GNCP Nagpur, a qualification that later proved invaluable in understanding medical science, rehabilitation, and sports nutrition. This educational foundation was firmly in place before he entered the professional fitness industry.
PROFESSIONAL FITNESS CAREER
Armed with lived experience and medical knowledge, Rushikesh entered the fitness field and worked as a Personal Trainer for Special Populations at PhySC Gym, Hadapsar, Pune, where he worked alongside India’s renowned bodybuilding icon Mr. Sangram Chougule. This phase of his life before taking admission at Government Medical College, Nagpur — refined his professional identity and exposed him to elite-level athletic conditioning.
BECOMING A PHYSIOTHERAPIST
Through years of collaboration with physiotherapists and orthopaedic specialists, Rushikesh realised that physiotherapy was the scientific backbone capable of replicating his transformation in others with hemophilia. Determined to formalise his expertise, he appeared for NEET-2020 and secured admission to the Physiotherapy School & Centre, Government Medical College (GMC), Nagpur. Today, he stands as Dr. Rushikesh Malave [PT], combining lived experience with clinical science.
Further strengthening his academic journey, Rushikesh has successfully cleared the entrance examination for higher education and is currently pursuing his Masters of Physiotherapy (Musculoskeletal Sciences) at the Physiotherapy Teaching and Treatment Centre, LTMMC & GH, Sion, Mumbai.
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS & CERTIFICATIONS
QUALIFICATIONS:
- MPTh – Master of Physiotherapy in Musculoskeletal Science (pursuing)
- BPTh – Bachelor of Physiotherapy
- DYND – Diploma in Yoga, Naturopathy & Dietetics
- D.Pharm – Diploma in Pharmacy
He is also an NPTEL “Superstar” — a distinction awarded by the National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL), an initiative of the IITs and IISc, Government of India, in recognition of exceptional academic performance across multiple certified online courses.
CERTIFICATIONS:
- Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
- Exercise Physiology & Sports Performance
- Fundamentals of Sports Training, Load Management & Recovery
- Sports and Performance Nutrition
- Sports Psychology
- Basic Life Support (CPR)
NATIONAL SPORTING ACHIEVEMENTS
Defying medical odds, Dr. Rushikesh Malave emerged as a dominant force in strength sports, especially in Strengthlifting, Powerlifting, and Para Arm Wrestling. His recent achievements include:
🏅 Gold Medal – 35th National Strengthlifting & Incline Bench Press Championships 2025 (Selection Trial for World Championship | 10–13 Nov 2025) Gangtok, Sikkim.
🏅 Gold Medal – 25th Maharashtra State Strengthlifting & Incline Bench Press Championship 2025 (Selection Trial for Nationals,| 26 Sept 2025) Nagpur, Maharashtra.
🏅 Gold Medal – Nagpur District Powerlifting (Bench Press) Championship 2025 (Selection Trial for State | 27 Sept 2025)
🏅 Gold Medal – 2nd Western India Strengthlifting & Incline Bench Press Championships 2025 (Selection Trial for World | 7–9 June 2025)Nagpur, Maharashtra.
🥈 Silver Medal (Left Hand Para) – National Arm Wrestling Championship 2025 (Selection Trial For World) Thrissur, Kerala. Date: 28/June to 2/July , 2025
🥉 Bronze Medal (Right Hand Para) – National Arm Wrestling Championship 2025 (Selection Trial For World)Thrissur, Kerala. Date: 28/June to 2/July , 2025
Beyond these remarkable accomplishments, he carries a defining ambition to represent India on the world stage and rise as a World Champion, redefining the limits of human performance while living with hemophilia, and setting a historic example of resilience, strength, and possibility for the global community.
Dual Medical Role in Recognised Sports Bodies:
In recognition of his rare blend of athletic achievement and medical expertise, Dr. Rushikesh Malave has been officially appointed in a Dual Role as Fitness Coach and Sports Physiotherapist in the Medical Teams of:
•Maharashtra Strengthlifting Association
•United Powerlifting India
These appointments mark a significant milestone, positioning him as both a performer and protector of athlete health at competitive levels.
GUIDED BY GURUS
Dr. Rushikesh’s journey is deeply rooted in the Guru–Shishya tradition. As a student of Bharat Vyayam Shala, Nagpur, under the patronage of Honourable Shrimant Shri Raje Mudhoji Bhosale Saheb, he absorbed the timeless values of Indian physical culture.
•Krida Maharshi Awardee, Respected Shri Hemant Dongaonkar (Guru Ji) provided elite technical training in Strengthlifting, Powerlifting, and Para Arm Wrestling. Also mentored him in international-standard training and sports governance.
•Respected Shri Chandrashekhar Jadhav (Guru Ji), President, Bharat Vyayam Shala, instilled discipline, moral strength, and consistency.
•Dr. Shrikant Warankar, Working President, Maharashtra Strengthlifting Association and South Asian Regional Head Director – Asian Arm Wrestling Federation (2025) provided valuable guidance and opportunities in Strengthlifting, Powerlifting, and Para Arm Wrestling.
VISION FOR THE HEMOPHILIA COMMUNITY
Beyond medals, Dr. Rushikesh Malave is committed to serving the hemophilia community — not only in India, but as part of a broader global movement focused on awareness, education, and empowerment. According to the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) Annual Global Survey 2024, over 418,000 individuals worldwide are identified with hemophilia, though significant underdiagnosis persists, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, along with disparities in access to factor replacement therapy.
In India, approximately 26,000–28,000 patients are officially registered, while the estimated prevalence exceeds 100,000, indicating that nearly 70–75% of individuals remain undiagnosed or unregistered. Within Maharashtra alone, over 2,000 individuals are registered, with many more yet to be identified.
Through his work, he actively educates families, patients, and healthcare professionals on the importance of combining Clotting-Factor replacement therapy with structured physical exercise, emphasising that while injections help prevent bleeding, it is movement that restores dignity, confidence, and independence.
“I don’t pray for an easy life. I train for the strength to endure a difficult one.” ~Dr. Rushikesh Malave [PT]