Ekalavya award winner, C V Rajanna, 39, a dwarf and a specially abled athlete hailing from the city, has been relentlessly preparing for the last two years to win medals in the forthcoming sixth World Dwarf Games to be held in Michighan, USA.
Rajanna, who is participating in the World Dwarf Games for the second time, is eager to bring laurels for the country.
Of the 13 participants representing the country in the event, seven are from Karnataka. Unlike previous years, the State Sports Ministry and the Paralympic Committee of India has promised to cover their expenses.
Expressing displeasure with the way they were treated in the past, Rajanna said, “We too play for this country with a hope to bring pride for the nation. We are like other Olympic players. Please recognise us too and come forward to encourage us.”
He won bronze and silver medals in the past and has been pleading the government to give them jobs. “If the government gives us jobs recognising our achievement, young talented dwarfs may come out of the closet and win medals,” he said.
The squad will take part in events like discus throw, badminton, shotput, powerlifting, 60 metres, 100 metres and 200 metres. Other participants include Devappa More (Bagalkot), S M Siddalinga (Bellary), Renu Kumar and M Prakash (Bangalore), N Nagesh (Kolar) and Shanthakumar K R (Hassan). Their coach is Ramesh Tikaram.