Three-time gold winner Suji Rani has no home

Thiruvananthapuram: Suji S Rani, three-time gold medalist at the State Athletics Meet and national bronze medalist in shot put (4 kg), remains homeless even after being promised a home by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy after last year’s National School meet.

Suji, a class 12  student of Govt VHSS, Mathirapilly, again bagged the first prize for shot put in the senior category at  the 58th Schools Athletics Championship. Even after winning the gold medal, she feels sad for not having a home. “My home got ruined during the monsoons and CM had promised  homes for those who got medals at national level. It is almost nine months and no notification has  been issued, giving  us one”, said Suji. She was trained by coach Babu sir.

Siju, a native of Thiruvananthapuram, stays at a hostel in Kothamangalam for her studies while her family stays at her aunt’s home. “My daughter got the best coach for shot put and she has been winning golds at the state fest for the past three years. It is her coach who looks after her and I never had to worry about her. She hands over her prize money to meet our  needs”, said her father, Santhosh.

The local panchayat had given her family Rs 2 lakh to help them with building a house.  But they had to return the money because they didn’t have enough money to spend for the extra expenses of construction. She had recently given another letter to the Collector for a house.