When he was six, K. Sriram developed a fascination for gymnastics. At 15 now, he has shone in many State-level gymnastic events. The lanky boy, who is a class XI student of Annai Velankanni Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Saidapet,
has excelled in all the categories of the sport. There are six of them — pommel horse, wall table, parallel bar, Roman rings, floor exercise and horizontal bar — and Sriram has won two silver medals in two of them (floor exercise and horizontal bar) and six gold medals in the other four. These achievements came at the State-level ‘Republic Day Sports’ championship, held recently at Salem.
Moreover, he has won the gold medal in the overall gymnastics championship.
Sriram comes from a modest background: his father is a small-time entrepreneur and his mother a homemaker. His achievements in gymnastics have led his school management to offer him a scholarship. Says this Saidapet resident, “My gymnastics coach S. Selvamaaruthi (at Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu) has been a source of encouragement for me.”
Sriram also has great supporters in his his parents, especially his mother, who ensures he gets nutritious food. Despite financial constraints, Sriram’s father would never discourage the boy from participating in competitions.
With so much encouragement and support, Sriram was destined to succeed. Now the boy has set his sights higher.
He is preparing for a national level contest, conducted by the ‘School Games Federation of India’ on December 29 in Kolkata. He has also been selected for a senior-level contest representing Tamil Nadu.
His coach Selvamaaruthi says Sriram is dedicated and practises for at least three hours a day at the Hall of Gymnastics, Velachery.
Sriram wants to be a pilot. And, of course, he wants to make it to the Olympics as a gymnast.
