R. Subramaniam gave badminton coaching to children with disability, he not only imparted the skill but also the courage to succeed against odds.
After losing his right hand in an accident, the league cricketer switched to playing shuttle badminton with his left hand.
Within a decade of the accident, he represented India in the sport and now coaches differently abled children.
It is this determination that he has passed on to his students such as D.Kirthivarman and his brother Mahendravarman.
“My parents had a quarrel while travelling on a train and my mother threw us out and jumped out from the moving train,” recalled Kirthivarman, the older sibling, of the incident that occurred around eight years ago.
The mother died in the accident. Kirthivarman, who is studying in Class VII, lost his right leg. His brother, a Class V student now, lost his left hand and a few fingers on the right hand.
Besides badminton, the boys have also learnt to play the band.
On Saturday, the brothers were among the 200 children who displayed their badminton skills at the two-day national tournament, organised by the Rotary Club Chennai Infocity at the Madras Race Club, Guindy. Youngsters from 17 States are participating in the event, which also includes a cultural programme.
President of the Rotary Club Chennai Infocity C.K. Raman said there were 62 prizes to be won in badminton and 32 prizes in the arts, cultural and special talents show.
The badminton tournament is being held in affiliation with the Bangalore-based All India Badminton Association for the Differently Abled.
The cultural show was held at the aquatic stadium in Velachery.
Ashok Kumar Das, DIG, Airports Security (south zone), inaugurated the tournament.
Actor Ramesh Kanna will distribute the prizes on Sunday.
The entire programme is being organised as part of the Rotary Leadership Award programme, office-bearers of the Club said.
Source : http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/article2463992.ece