S. Sanjay stretches a sinewy arm to the sky and hurls a javelin with the other. He takes a moment to recover his breath, and throws again, and again. The 15-year-old is working harder than usual for the upcoming 60{+t}{+h}National School Sports tournament at Ranchi, Jharkhand.
Competing in the under-17 category, Sanjay will be the only Corporation school student to represent Tamil Nadu.
About eight years ago, Sanjay arrived in Chennai with Christian missionaries who had visited Muniguda in Odisha. His parents had been unable to afford an education for him there. Now, he lives in Annal Children’s Home in Velachery, a home for orphans and destitute children.
ADVERTISEMENT
According to Theoder Gunaseelan, founder of the home, Sanjay was keen on sports from a young age. He competed in local events at the Corporation school in Purusawalkam, but it was only when he joined Chennai H.S.S., at Velachery, that his talent was recognised. “He has been coming first in the zonal sports meets for the past three years and excels in running and shot put,” he says.
The journey hasn’t been easy. Until he came first in the State sports meet last month, he had no equipment, bag, shoes or clothing for practice. “He had blisters from running barefoot, and we could not afford the sort of nutrition he needed while training,” Mr. Gunaseelan says. But, everything changed after he met the Mayor. Headmistress W. Elizabeth says that the Corporation has taken up all the expenses for his training. Sanjay dreams big. “I want to become an international champion and do whatever I can to develop the home that opened its doors to me,” he says.
S. Sanjay is the only Corporation School student to take part in the national sports meet