Madurai :

Disabled T Elanchelian, 33, runs a tea shop like others. He is different not just because of disability, but as holder of a commendable sport record. He has won medals in 17 national and two international shuttle badminton events.

Elanchelian’s tea shop is at the village bus stop in A Vellalapatti village in Melur taluk. His request seeking a government job has been pending with the government for many years. He is the sole bread-winner for his small family consisting of himself and his aged mother. His father deserted them 13 years ago. His brother is in fact working in police department, but is settled elsewhere. “Elanchelian was born in 1980. He was afflicted with polio when he was one year old. However, we joined him at the government higher secondary school in our village and he completed his plus two there itself,” said Naachammal, his mother.

After his school education, Elanchelian casually learnt shuttle badminton. He participated in the Madurai district-level badminton game in 1998 and won. This was a turning point, Naachammal said.

Thereafter, he won laurels in several events. He became a state-level winner and then at the national level. In 2002 I attended an international event in Chennai and bagged bronze. I had to settle for silver at an event held in Sri Lanka in 2007, Elanchelian said.

When the third international opportunity had come for him last November he could not go. “The event was held in Germany. I couldn’t attend it as I didn’t have money,” said Elanchelian.

Elanchelian has in his kitty 8 gold medals, 10 silver medals and 13 bronze.

Saying about government job, Elanchelian said he was promised government job when he won gold in the national game held in Chennai in 2013. But, the government is yet to fulfil the promise, he said.

The government extending many welfare measures for the people may consider the poor disabled sports people’ issue, too, he said.

Now, Elanchelian is giving free training to 14 students including two disabled persons at his local place.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Madurai> Badminton / TNN / January 28th, 2014