Udupi, Feb 7: An atmosphere of celebration prevailed in a poor household of Chittoo village in Kundapur taluk of Udupi district after 24-year-old Gururaja won a gold medal at the 12th South Asian Games in Guwahati on Saturday.
This son of a truck driver made it to the top due to sheer hard work and dedication, despite all the financial hardships the family faced in the village.
He is the fifth among six sons of Mahabala and Paddu Poojary. The entire family was ecstatic after hearing the news of Gururaja winning gold in the 56 kg weightlifting category.
“Gururaja was only interested in sports since his childhood, so we encouraged him. Though sometimes it was difficult to get the money, I somehow managed,” said his father.
Gururaja did his schooling at the Sri Mookambika Temple School and PU College in Kollur. During his PU days, he was interested in wrestling, and learnt it under his coach Sukesh Shetty in Kollur.
The turning point came when he joined the SDM College in Ujire, Dakshina Kannada, for his graduation. It was his coach Rajendra Prasad M. who encouraged him in weight lifting.
“Gururaja used to practise two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening. During competitions, he used to put in two additional hours,” he said. Mr. Prasad coached him for five years until Gururaja got selected for the post of aircraft-man in the Indian Air Force under sports quota. He has been undergoing training in Belagavi for six months.
Gururaja, who spoke over the telephone from Guwahati, said he owed his success to the unstinting support of his parents, and his coach Mr. Prasad.
Comments
He has made our Mangalore proud. Congratulations Dear.There are lots of youths are their like Gururaja. Unfortunately without proper education , finance and proper guidance they could not achieve anything.
Most of them are under the fold of Sangha Pariwar, where their rich leaders sends there own children abroad for education and they use these boys for goondasm in Mangalore.
nice lift, hardwork came to like a fruit.
really great, working for indian airforce only a big achievement,. clubbing to that he took gold medal in weight lifting, proud to be mangalorean.
parents really lucky to have this kid, god bless u all
awesome lift, deserve the golden medal,
Congratulation Mr. Gururaj... Good Luck ...
Not only a Tuck driver, even a lowest in the man made caste system cam also participate and they are also a human being.
He is in the open society. He can dream and accomplish it.
The constitution is secular, but the people of some sects are making polarization.
The God has not made such division.
Parents must be proud of him, did a very good achievement.
excellent, well done all the best keep up the winning movement.
Congrats Gururaj,U have made the country proud.All the best for Olympics.
Rich Muslim Fathers Son(Father in Gulf,Father big business in Mlore) from Mangalore roams in City Center/Forum...hahaha...Wa avasthe marre.Care ijji.
Marali schoolige alla...dakshina kannadada makkalige bekirudu Shale/Colleginalli sari daarige/100% markige.
Just go and see Aloysius/Milagris muslim students mark....hahaha...lagadi pother matha....ONLY JOLLY.
live example for poor family kids, if someone want to get success they dont need anybody, hardwork make them success.
we are proud of you, a national salute to the brave boy.
well done boy, keep it up and congratulation.
Add new comment