CHENNAI: The talented S Danush’s development may just have been hampered because of his parents’ insistence on him finishing Standard XII in Chennai.
One must go back to 2015 to see where the problems started. He was one of seven young swimmers sent under JSW’s Sports Excellence Program to South Africa for a two-year trip. Under the scheme, he trained under renowned coach Graham Hill.
Fast forward to August 2016, and the Chennai lad came back home midway through this programme to finish his 11th and 12th at Akshaya Matriculation School, on his parents’ insistence. And this hasn’t gone down well with JSW. Even though Danush and his parents want to continue the South Africa sojourn, but only once he completes his schooling next year.
It has been learned that JSW aren’t happy with this move and are not keen on sending him back. Having taken up all expenses for his trip, it hasn’t been received well by the organisation that Danush changed plans.
But his parents are still waiting for that call. “We wanted him to complete Class XII here and then go back to South Africa in 2018.
I even spoke to JSW CEO Mustafa Ghouse about his possible return and plans regarding that two weeks back, but we haven’t got a response. However, my husband and I are still hopeful that they get back to us,” Danush’s mother Dr Vijaya Suresh told Express on Wednesday.
Danush himself is keen to get back to the Rainbow Nation. “It was a wonderful experience in South Africa. It was like a new lifestyle I lived there. The people, education and swimming were all different. It was all about learning, be it swimming, life tools or academics. I’d love to go back and continue my stint, but it’s up to JSW,” he said.
The proposed change of the food menu at the training centre in Durban, however, is giving him some sleepless nights. “The previous menu was pretty good for us swimmers. But I heard that there is a new menu being introduced there, which doesn’t meet the nutritional needs for swimmers. It is worrying me and my parents, but I’m sure that can be sorted,” added the 17-year-old.
Danush seems to be caught between what his parents want and what might be a better career option. But it doesn’t look good for the teenager’s future as a swimmer.
When contacted, Ghouse said that JSW couldn’t decide anything until Danush finished his 11th exams, which get underway on Wednesday. “Danush is busy with exams currently, and we will not be able to decide anything until that is done,” he said.
raviiyer@newindianexpress.com