In yet another instance of how anything is possible if one is strong-willed, T Sundar (19), a resident of Vannandurai, who was born with a deformity, is now making waves in martial arts.
“At birth, his head was found to be too big for his body. Due to this, he could not stand. As he grew older, we realised that his one leg was longer than the other. So we carried him everywhere. He stood for the first time when he was five-years-old, and could not walk till he turned ten,” says Valli, his mother.
At school, his condition took a toll on him, and he wanted to stop going to classes. “Even his Principal said that it would be better if he dropped out. I was disappointed. I knew for a child like him to survive, he needs to be educated and land a job,” explains Valli.
Sundar however dropped out in class nine. That is when he began showing interest in Karate, much to the surprise of everyone. His reluctant family members enrolled him for classes in a neighbourhood academy.
“They had Karate classes at school, which I keenly observed,” says Sundar. When he began, a family member would drop and bring him back. Later, the sessions began making changes in him.
“I experienced pain and discomfort at the start. But my coach Ayyappan Mani trained me like any other student. That put me at ease. I have become more braver now. I have achieved a green belt too,” he smiles.But for his family, the greatest achievement is that he comes home by himself after classes.
Speaking to this newspaper, his coach said, “I teach 25 differently-abled students. Sundar has been doing well. As he goes into higher levels, the challenge lies in understanding the extent to which his legs will co-operate.”
In the past one year, the youngster has participated in five tournaments, while clinching the gold at the National level in July 2018.
“That was the first time we saw him perform. After going for classes, he can walk better and does not struggle with anger issues like he used to” states Valli.
As for Sundar, his aim is to become a Karate coach himself, he says.
He can be reached at 99623 04966.