The Hindu : Sport / Athletics : Can't hold this for long, says Raju Paul

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Wednesday, Dec 06, 2006
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Can't hold this for long, says Raju Paul

Principal Correspondent

— Photo: K. Ananthan

Raju Paul.

PALAKKAD: Sometimes, a cup of joy can be a heavy burden too. Minutes after Kothamangalan's St. George HSS completed a hat-trick of triumphs as Kerala's champion school here on Tuesday, the team's coach Raju Paul exclaimed, "can't hold this for long." "It's a heavy burden to keep the camp going and we run almost all through the year, rain or shine. It costs us around Rs. 11 lakhs every year," said Raju, who is also the school's physical education teacher.

Real struggle

"The EVM Group has been helping us for some time now but our budget is four or five times more than that. We run a lottery to raise cash and we get funds from well-wishers but we don't know how long we can go on like this."

"The Government offers a cash prize of around one lakh to the champion school. It will reduce our burden in a big way if it raises it to Rs. 10 lakhs. That will also raise the quality of competition," he said.

With nearly 3,500 athletes in action, and a few thousands to watch them, one can easily get lost at the State Schools Meet.

Distinctive look

But you won't miss the St. George School boys. For all of them shave their heads. Eggheads, but not exactly of the intellectual kind.

"That's something special for the Schools Meet. So that people will notice us...and we have a heavy bunch of winners," said Raju who coaches nearly a 100 athletes at the camp.

Around 20 athletes pass out from St. George every year and the school conducts a week-long trial to find new boys and girls. Around fifty percent of its athletes hail from Idukki. And many, like V.B. Bineesh and Sini Jose, have gone on to represent the country at the junior or senior level.

"We also pray a lot at the camp. That's what keeps us going,'' said Raju.

Koruthode's C.K.M. HSS holds the record, with a 16-year run, as the State's champion school. Will St. George be able to break it? "Get somebody to fund us in a big way and we'll show you,'' said Raju.

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