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Clearing hurdles with killer instinct
Hard-fought victory.
SIX YOUNG denizens have brought laurels to the district through sheer self-determination, dedication and hard work. They have won 14 medals, virtually fighting it out with hundreds of competitors across the country. Most of them not only fought poverty, but also lack of infrastructure.
Ranjith Kumar, Gopikannan, Rajalakshmi, Deepa, Deepalakshmi and Suganthiri, all had something in common — physical disability. Fate played its cruelty on these youths during their young days; in the form of polio for others, and accident in the case of Deepa.
They knew their physical movements were curtailed, but not the life as a whole. But the untiring efforts and killer instinct in them to excel on a par with others took them to the new heights of winning medals at the recently concluded fifth National Athletics Championships at Bangalore.
While Ranjith Kumar proved himself as a `golden youth', winning three gold medals for the State in discus throw, shot put and javelin throw, Gopikannan, an automobile mechanic, wrested four medals including one gold in shot put, silver in discus throw and a bronze in javelin throw and 100 metres wheel-chair race each.
For Rajalakshmi, her ordeal to travel to the city from Usilampatti and returning late in the night, for the practice sessions, did not go waste as she snatched a gold in shot put and two silver in discus throw and javelin throw.
A student of Meenakshi Government College, Deepa has brought home a gold medal in discus throw, pushing all her physical disability caused by an accidental fall into water when she was two. Deepalakshmi and Suganthiri romped home with one bronze medal each in shot put and javelin throw respectively.
The victory was not that easy for them as it appears. First it was hard to convince their parents to spend money and time for sports activity. Then it was about finding sponsors to boot the expenses for their trip to Bangalore.
However, the District Physically Handicapped Welfare Association came to their rescue, taking as many as 24 participants to Bangalore.
The participants have a worry that not only their hidden talents but also their proven achievements have not been duly recognised. ``While normal sports persons are treated as heroes, our victory at the national level has failed to attract the attention of the public''.
However, the only consolation has been the dedication of Parasuraman, physical education teacher from the Thyagarajar Model Higher Secondary School, who took personal care to teach them the basic techniques, rules and regulation of the field events.
``It was only his encouragement that helped me excel in all the three events in my category'', says Ranjith, overcoming the lack of infrastructure such as poor quality of wheelchair.
The participants say such sports activity infused fresh vigour in them that they were not low in confidence.
By S Sundar
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Life
Bangalore
Chennai
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Thiruvananthapuram
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