Minister for Information Technology M. Manikandan has extended a timely assistance to yoga student C. Kamatchi, the medal winner in the Asian yoga sports championship to take part in the ‘2017 world yoga sports ranking championship’ to be held in the United Arab Emirates in December.
Kamatchi, studying M. Sc (yoga) at the Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University, Chennai, had been running from pillar to the post, seeking sponsorship for the world event, when Mr Manikandan provided her the financial assistance, considering her poor family background and help her to achieve her dreams.
After she won silver medals in Athletic and Artistic categories in the 19 to 25 age group in the first Pacific Asian Yoga Sports Championship held in Thailand in May, Kamatchi (21), who hailed from Posukudipatti in Mudukulathur block, had been looking for sponsorship to take part in the world championship.
On learning that the young yoga exponent was in need of financial assistance, the Minister called her to his home here on Sunday and handed over the cash.
“I am extremely thankful to the Minister and I will definitely bring laurels to the State and the district,’ Kamatchi told The Hindu on Monday.
She would still need another ₹10,000 as the Tamil Nadu Yoga Sports Development Association has communicated to her that she would need ₹70,000, including ₹36,500 for airfare and visa and ₹10,500 for hotel accommodation to take part in the event to be held in Abu Dhabi on December 29 and 30.
Her father was employed as a driver in the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation and the people of her village have offered to mobile and give her the balance amount, she said. She would focus on asanas in athletic and artistic yogas, her strength in the world event, she said. She would be part of a 15-member team from Tamil Nadu, she said.
Kamatchi was introduced to yoga for the first time when she joined B Sc (Information Technology) at the Thassim Beevi Abdul Kader College for Women, Kilakarai. Within a short span of three years she brought laurels to the State, winning silver in the Thailand event, thanks to the sponsorship by the college. She was trained by yoga master A Padmanaban in the college.
