The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : A man who has triumphed over adversity

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 30, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

A man who has triumphed over adversity

K. Lakshmi

M.R. Soundara Rajan. — Photo: M. Karunakaran

CHENNAI: For many people, cycling is a hobby or an activity to stay fit.

But for M.R. Soundara Rajan from a village in Tirunelveli district cycling is more than a leisure activity — it is a means to achievement.

As his letterhead reads, `nothing is impossible' for Soundara Rajan who has triumphed over his disability to win several medals.

His conviction to achieve has turned a childhood cycle accident into a mode of success.

Soundara Rajan, who lost his right leg in the accident, uses an artificial lower limb. He is an international cycling gold medallist, winning several state, national and international level sports competitions since he was 13 years old.

He has also won gold medals in swimming and spear-throwing competitions.

His international record includes the gold medal in spear-throwing in the F44 category at a competition held for the physically-disabled in Belgium in 2002 and the gold medal and title of Special Champion 2002 in the World Cycle Champion contest held in Germany.

His thirst to create records has brought him success beyond sport. Soundara Rajan has cycled around Tamil Nadu covering 2,850 km in 140 hours during 1991.

He has also travelled 26,750 km around India in 19 days on his motorbike. Sports federations in Tamil Nadu have recommended him for the Arjuna Award under the disabled category.

However, he says, he is has to borrow loans to participate in the sports events and has been waiting for a house to be sanctioned for nine years.

His only dream now is the sanction of a HIG flat at the SAF Games Village in Koyambedu, for which he has appealed to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

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