P Sreeja has done it again. The visually impaired athlete from Vellanad has won two golds and a silver at the just-concluded state-level para-athletic meet in Kozhikode.
The youngster, who is 70-per cent visually challenged, has now qualified for the nationals, which will be held in Goa next year. Sreeja, who does not have formal coaching, won golds in the 100-metre sprint and discus throw and silver in javelin.
She also won a gold for winning the maximum number of points in the Kozhikode meet. In late November, Sreeja had bagged a gold and two silvers at the national para-athletic championships.
Her superlative performance in the Kozhikode meet notwithstanding, Sreeja is a bit concerned about her future. The Chief Minister’s office is yet to respond to her request for assistance to train. Since last March, she has not had a chance for systematic training, which is essential to win medals in national and world meets.
Sreeja had started athletics at a young age, but has had no formal coaching all these years. Five years ago, she was adopted by the Sathya Sai Orphanage Trust, which has since then sponsored her studies. Sreeja, who lives with her mother Prakashini at Vellanad, hopes to become a Malayalam teacher one day.