U. Mohan Harsha who won a silver medal in the 100m at the Dubai World Para Athletics Grand Prix. Photo credit: Special Arrangements
Hyderabad
He lost his right hand in an electrical short-circuit accident at the age of three, but was not expected to make it big in life. Now, 20-year-old U Mohan Harsha, former All England champion P Gopichand and SAI athletics coach N. A toast to Ramesh, who identifies young talent and grooms them through the Gopi Mitrah Foundation.
Reason? Harsha won the 100m silver (T47 category) in 11.26 seconds at the Dubai World Para Athletics Grand Prix on Tuesday. Indonesia’s gold medalist Nur Feri Perdana clocked 11.12.
“I believe sports give para-athletes their own identity rather than being called one of the specially challenged. Para-shuttler and former world champion Manasi Joshi is the best example,” said Gopi.
Interestingly, it was Coach Nagaraju, who first spotted Tirupati-based Harsha at a Kendriya Vidyalaya cluster athletics meet and once visited Gachibowli (Hyderabad), without telling his parents the real reason for the invitation. Agreed to do.
“He did not know why he was asked to accompany his son to the sports complex. But, once he was convinced that his son’s future would be bright with special training, he left him in Hyderabad under our tutelage. decided,” Ramesh said. Hindu.
Hard work
“Since I was sure he had the speed, the focus was on sprints. Fortunately, Harsha had a talent for hours of training despite a major handicap.”
Harsha won gold at the final senior national in the same event, which helped him qualify for the Dubai World Meet, and sponsors such as Colgate began giving him monthly scholarships. Gopi Mitra Foundation takes care of food, training and boarding expenses.
“I told Harsha that once you are on the track, you are like any other normal athlete to me. And you never even think that you are physically challenged,” said Ramesh.
Big Dreams
To the maestro’s delight, Harsha, a product of SAI Sports Training Centre’s (Hyderabad) pay-and-play scheme and now representing Telangana, is now dreaming big — to win a medal at the Paralympics.
