The Hindu : Karnataka News : Disability is no obstacle for this champ

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 03, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Disability is no obstacle for this champ

Staff Correspondent

Samiullah is a shining example of how determination can do wonders

Samiullah with his prized possessions.

Chitradurga: World Disability Day is observed on Monday. Though many disabled people have worked hard and proved their mettle, the lack of support has left them dismayed.

B. Samiullah, a 24-year-old weightlifter, is one such person who is struggling despite bringing glory to the State.

Both his legs were affected by polio when he was three years old, and Samiullah uses his hands to remain mobile.

He has participated in several weightlifting competitions in the State and outside and has won medals.

The passion for weightlifting was kindled when he was in first year pre-university.

His close friend took him to a gymnasium where he saw men lifting weights.

“I wanted to become a sportsperson, but in view of my disability people advised me to take to chess. But I wanted to do something different and challenging and chose weightlifting,” he said.

He joined a gymnasium and working hard. Samiullah secured a gold medal when he participated for the first time in a championship in Mangalore in 2004.

He got the first prize in the 52 kg category by lifting 110 kg.

He was also selected as the strongest man of Karnataka in the same event. “But permission to participate in the competition came with difficulty as my application was rejected on the ground that I am disabled. But I fought and got the permission,” he said.

Securing the gold medal by competing with normal people was something great, Mr. Samiullah said.

The gold medal boosted his morale and he participated in several competitions thereafter, including the national-level competition held in Jharkhand in 2005. There, he secured the bronze medal.

At State-level contests, he has secured gold and silver medals. But financial difficulty proved a hindrance to his dreams.He could not participate in the national-level championship in Delhi in December 2006.

“With great difficulty we arranged Rs. 15,000 to send him to Jharkhand. Sami’s mother pledged her gold earrings to arrange the money. With a meagre pension of Rs. 3,000, it is not possible for me to arrange to send him to all competitions,” Mr. Samiullah’s father, Bashasab, a retired driver, said.

Mr. Bashasab, who was employed with the Public Works Department, said their financial state did not allow him to help his son pursue his passion.

He said the family had been asking Mr. Samiullah to stay at home, but he is obsessed with weightlifting.

Mr. Samiullah said he wished to participate in the national-level championship to be held in Mangalore in January next year, but had been told that the new norms did not allow disabled people to participate.

“I am in touch with the organisers to get the rule changed. Even if I get a chance, I don’t know how to arrange the money,” he said.

His father pointed out that except for a tricycle, Mr. Samiullah got nothing from the Government.

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