Daily wage earner is judo champ

Chennai: Little would we have imagined that a visually challenged daily wage labourer, who struggled to make Rs 60 a day, could make it to the Commonwealth judo championship held recently in South Africa.  

J. Manoharan (27), who was among the three selected visually challenged participants from Tamil Nadu, missed out narrowly on a bronze medal. But his spirits were not dented even a little bit as he would soon resume practising for the 2016 Para Olympics. “With only 15 percent of vision, I could not continue my studies. Nor did I know that a blind school existed,” said the teary eyed champion who quit school after Class 10. Driven by financial need, he eked out a living by carrying heavy loads that fetched him Rs 60 for 12 hours. His passion to climb the ladder in sports made him try his hand in martial arts.

Echoing a similar tale are M. Susheela (23) and R.Vijayashanthi who won the gold in the B1 category of the judo championship in the Commonwealth games.

Hailing from Athupatti village of Karur, Susheela crossed many barriers of ignorance and ill treatment to achieve the steps of success. “With ten percent of vision, I was doubtful about learning judo, the game which requires multitasking. My coach Uma Shankar shredded my negative thoughts by his continuous support,” she added.

Many girl students like Susheela are provided accommodation and support by an organisation called Nilacharal Ashram, run by a senior citizen, M. Radhakrishnan. “Had he not offered his fatherly support, I could have achieved nothing,” said Susheela with gratitude. She needs no help in commuting from her home to the college near Chengalpet and to her sports classes in Nehru Stadium. “I can make it through the slight shadow. After all, it is confidence that matters,” she said.

Vijayashanthi, on the other hand, has been practising the sport since five years and has defeated participants from Northern Ireland, South Africa and England. She had won bronze in the Asian Para-games held in South Korea.

Judo coach S. Umashankar said that the focus and observation skills of visually impaired students are much more than the normal people. “It could be time taking, but I feel utmost pleasure in coaching them,” he added.