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CHENNAI: Even as the limelight was on Tamil Nadu’s Mariyappan Thangavelu as he was conferred with the Khel Ratna award on Saturday morning, the state had another reason to celebrate in the form of noted para-athlete coach J Ranjith Kumar who won the Dhyan Chand award. After being overlooked for the award on four occasions previously, the stars have finally shone on Ranjith. The award is given to sportspersons who have excelled both during their career and post retirement.
The 46-year-old, with over 20 international medals to his name in a career that spanned from 1998 to 2014, was emotional as he recalled those years as an international athlete before switching to coaching. “The Dhyan Chand award is, undoubtedly, one of the proudest moments of my career. While I have won many medals for the country, but to be recognized by the government for the work I have put in to train the next generation of para-athletes is a huge honour,” Ranjith told TOI.
Hailing from Madurai, Ranjith lost his father early and polio on both legs left him wheelchair-bound. He discontinued studies after class X and took up different jobs to keep his family financially afloat. “It was a testing time for me as I worked in STD booths and even in travel agencies to run the family before sports came calling in 1998,” Ranjith recalled. Though he was interested in sports during his schooling days, Ranjith decided to carve a career out of it thanks to the encouragement from his first coach Parasuraman. “Para-athletes need more assurance about their talents than abled athletes. Parasuraman sir instilled a lot of self-belief in me and that did wonders in the subsequent years,” Ranjith said.
While Ranjith has brought numerous laurels for India on the international stage, the bronze in discus throw at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games remains his most-cherished effort. Para-Sports were first introduced at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester. “I was the first Indian para-athlete to win a medal at the CW Games and I am proud of that,” he said.
Once his own career came to a close, Ranjith’s skillset – as SDAT coach in Madurai – came to the fore in training the next generation of TN para-athletes. So far, Ranjith has coached hundreds of para-athletes who have won medals on the national and international circuit. “We owe our success to Ranjith sir and if not for his efforts, things would have been tough for us. He gives us a sense of direction which is important,” said Arunmoli who won 7 gold medals across shot put, discus throw and javelin categories in the state para athletics meet at Karaikudi last year.
The 46-year-old, with over 20 international medals to his name in a career that spanned from 1998 to 2014, was emotional as he recalled those years as an international athlete before switching to coaching. “The Dhyan Chand award is, undoubtedly, one of the proudest moments of my career. While I have won many medals for the country, but to be recognized by the government for the work I have put in to train the next generation of para-athletes is a huge honour,” Ranjith told TOI.
Hailing from Madurai, Ranjith lost his father early and polio on both legs left him wheelchair-bound. He discontinued studies after class X and took up different jobs to keep his family financially afloat. “It was a testing time for me as I worked in STD booths and even in travel agencies to run the family before sports came calling in 1998,” Ranjith recalled. Though he was interested in sports during his schooling days, Ranjith decided to carve a career out of it thanks to the encouragement from his first coach Parasuraman. “Para-athletes need more assurance about their talents than abled athletes. Parasuraman sir instilled a lot of self-belief in me and that did wonders in the subsequent years,” Ranjith said.
While Ranjith has brought numerous laurels for India on the international stage, the bronze in discus throw at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games remains his most-cherished effort. Para-Sports were first introduced at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester. “I was the first Indian para-athlete to win a medal at the CW Games and I am proud of that,” he said.
Once his own career came to a close, Ranjith’s skillset – as SDAT coach in Madurai – came to the fore in training the next generation of TN para-athletes. So far, Ranjith has coached hundreds of para-athletes who have won medals on the national and international circuit. “We owe our success to Ranjith sir and if not for his efforts, things would have been tough for us. He gives us a sense of direction which is important,” said Arunmoli who won 7 gold medals across shot put, discus throw and javelin categories in the state para athletics meet at Karaikudi last year.
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