BENGALURU: The devout at St George Forane’s Church at Muthalakodam in Idukki, Kerala, prayed for a whole year for Theresamma’s grandson to qualify for the Rio Olympics. And when the achievement happened on July 5, it was a proud moment not only for the village but also the whole country.
Sajjan Prakash (22), a clerk at Bengaluru Railway Division, emerged victorious in the last qualifying round in the 200m butterfly stroke category held in Hong Kong this week. Shivani from Haryana, who qualified in the women’s 200m freestyle event, is the only other swimmer in the country to make the cut.
Upon his arrival in Bengaluru on Saturday morning, Prakash received many congratulatory handshakes at the Basavanagudi Swimming Complex where he has been training since 2011. The swimmer also underwent year-long training at Thailand on a FINA scholarship.
“I have dreamt of the Olympics since childhood. I worked really hard over the past year-and-a-half,” Prakash told City Express.
National coach Pradeep Kumar, who trained the swimmer ever since he relocated to Bengaluru, says, “His best timing is 1:59:27 in the 200m butterfly stroke category. He is the only Indian to complete the distance under two minutes,” he says.
Who is Prakash’s inspiration? “My mother,” he says. “She was the one who pushed me to become what I am today.”
V J Shanti Mol is a single parent who has endured a huge financial and physical strain to support her son through his training over the past 15 years.
Once a national-level athlete herself, she got a job at Neyveli Lignite Corporation at the age of 17 under the sports quota.
xAfter her short-lived marriage, Shanti Mol wanted her son to achieve what she could not — represent the country internationally.
While Prakash earns Rs 18,000 a month, his monthly training expenses come up to Rs 40,000. “I have lost count of the lakhs we have spent on this dream, often taking loans. I haven’t been able to spend any money for myself. I still ride my 22-year-old Kinetic Honda and wear clothes bought ages ago,” she says, tearing up.
The trips to foreign countries, imported swim wear, protein supplements, frequent visits to Bengaluru...the expenses never end, she adds.
The only time the family got any financial aid was when the Kerala government awarded him Rs 33 lakh after he won six gold and three silver medals at the 2015 National Games in Tiruvananthapuram.
Prakash’s gym instructor, A I Richard, says, “I have seen the boy suffer so much. It is a miracle that someone with no sponsors has made it this big.”
So does he fancy returning from Rio with a medal? “Michael Phelps holds the world record for 1 minute and 54 seconds. I need to knock five seconds off my timing to set a new record, which is incredibly tough. I will do my best,” he says.