If you have a passion, keep at it till you are not just good, but great. This is what skater
Shakthi T (17), son of S Thanigaivel and resident of Palavakkam, has shown.
Having already won 85 medals, he recently bagged a gold at the International Championship 2018, conducted by Asian Games Federation.
A student of Chettinad Vidyashram, R A Puram, Shakthi says, years of practice have changed him from being an ‘aggressive’ player, to a calmer one, whose sole motivation is to win laurels for the nation.
“I began skating when I was ten-years-old. I had gone to Besant Nagar beach with my family and saw children skating on the rink. I don’t know how it got into my head. Till then, I was not into any sport. When I tried for the first time I fell, but my coach motivated me,” he recalls.
“I was super excited initially, that I even skated inside the house,” he quips. Talking about his winning spree, he states, “My first win was at a club meet at the age of ten. At 11, I bagged the District Championship, and have been winning ever since.”
He has a overall tally of 85 medals, in which 50 are gold and 35 are silver and bronze, apart from 22 trophies, in a span of six years. He has been crowned two times as the National champion, and five times as State and District champion.
“I worked really hard for each medal. I kept goals and a time frame for myself,” he says. Even as it started as a hobby, Shakthi is motivated to win. Now, whenever he needs to calm himself, skating is his stress buster.
“It is a complete sport. You have to put in your mind and body to it. It has improved my concentration, thus helping me in my academics as well,” he states.
“Whenever I step into the rink, I just have one goal in my mind which is to think about my future.To be as calm as possible and practise as much as I can. I analyse my skills, correct my weaknesses. Right now, my heart is filled with gratitude to my coach, parents, brother, friends and gym trainer. They stood with me throughout this journey,” he concludes.
He can be reached at 98846 00067.