Disabled Win Medals

The spirit to excel in life has made two persons with disability participate in national level sports conducted by the Paralympic Committee of India, a national sports body headquartered in Bangalore. A Kanniyappan and A Ramesh, despite their disability, have brought laurels to the state by winning medals at various events at the national meet. Reporters caught up with them at the District Rehabilitation Office at the Collectorate here where they displayed their medals. The pride they had in bringing laurels to the state was overshadowed by the fact that the youngsters are on the hunt for a job. Kanniyappan said that he devotes time for sports practice while working as a data entry operator on a part-time basis. Besides, he is pursuing his B Com.

“I never worried over my disability as I had the confidence to develop my skills. Right from my school days, I had been participating in various sport events. Moreover, my physical education instructor helped me in my practice. I derived pleasure while taking part in the sport events,” he said adding that he had been participating in national level events since 2001. Kanniyappan took part in the IX Far East and South Pacific games for the disabled (FESPIC) held in Kuala Lumpur in 2006 and was ranked fifth in the javeline throw. “Though Government of India rewarded me Rs 15,000 for my fete, it showed no interest in providing a job for me,” he said, adding that even the Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had promised jobs for differently-abled sportsperons when the disabled persons conducted a rally in Chennai on August 19, 2008.

Expressing his anguish, Kanniyappan said that as far as Coimbatore is concerned, there is no ground facility for differently- abled persons to practise. “We are not allowed inside Nehru Stadium for practice. If only the district administration allowed us, we would definitely bring more laurels to the state and more particularly Coimbatore. A Ramesh, who completed his UG in physics at Madurai American College, had this to say: “Like the saying `If one door is closed, God opens another’ I started to have a liking for sports and started developing it. With the help of my friends I finetuned my sport talent in short-put, discuss throw, javelin throw and swimming.” “Sports never deterred me from my academics.

After leaving college I pursued my Diploma in Computer Service and Application (DCSA) and became a hardware service engineer,” Ramesh said, adding “I used to get some job work through private concerns. However, I had to go out and meet people in search of work.” Ramesh had participated in the national level event (Paralympic Committee of India) and was placed third in swimming while winning the second prize in fencing event held in Chennai. Echoing the views of Kanniyappan, he said that lack of ground for practising had crippled the sport talent. They yearn that the district collector would give nod for them to practise at the Nehru Stadium.

Related Posts by Categories

Sports News

• Adventure sports
• Six-a-side cricket to be conducted !!
• FMSCI National raching championship !
• National Rally Championship Begins In Coimbatore
• MRF supercross - Eeshan Lokhande’s day !
• Devendro, Shanmugam in semifinals ..
• Santosh Trophy starts on May 24 !
• Indian National Road Racing Starts On June
• Personality Of The Week
• Pepsodent Chennai Super Kings Juniors
• Coimbatore's Women's Day Celelbrations
• Vijay TV Hunting For Junior Version Of Chennai Super Kings
• Jetix Action League 2.0 Finished
• Coimbatoreian Is The Chairman Of Kennel Club
• Austrian Cycleing Couple At Coimbatore
• Jetix Action League 2.0 Starts On Jan-24
• Loyola College Is The Champion
• Coimbatore Vizha - Mini Marathon Held
• Miniature Bikes Becoming Populer With Children
• Cricket Unites Peoples
• Coimbatore Sports News 21.12.2008
• Coimbatore’s P. Priya Emerged The Fastest Athlet
• Coimbatore Sports News
• Chander Memorial Rally 2008 On Dec 21st
• Former Indian Hockey Captain At Coimbatore