With a precious gold medal in his pocket and hopes of good days ahead, K.R. Shanth Kumar travelled from Bengaluru to Hassan by a KSRTC bus on Thursday afternoon. As he got down at the bus-stand around 4.30 p.m., except his parents there was none to welcome the sportsman, who won a gold medal at the 7th World Dwarf Games, considered the “Olympic of little people” held at the University of Guelph in Canada.
Mr. Kumar won a gold medal in Boccia, a ball sport in the international event.
The 27-year-old, a native of Kollangi in Arkalgud taluk, works at Holalagodu Gram Panchayat as an information officer for physically challenged people for a monthly honorarium of ₹3,000. He stays at Kollangi with his wife Arpitha, a son and parents.
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“When I was selected for the international event, the government had assured me funds. But later they said they would offer their help once the event was over. I borrowed money from friends, relatives and pledged gold ornaments to participate in the event,” Mr. Kumar told
Mr. Kumar has participated in many national events and secured 15 medals so far. This is his first international medal. He has studied up to PU. His family has only one acre of land and he cannot depend on the earnings from the agricultural land for his living. “Only recently, the honorarium was increased to ₹3,000 per month. I’m hoping that the State government recognises my achievement in sports and offers me a job,” he said.