Woodcutter Turned Runner To Compete At Asian Championships!
Palakkad, Kerala, India
Imagine if you had to spend a life in poverty, chopping wood and struggling through the days just to get a decent meal. Would you, in these dire situations dare to dream and hope to achieve the impossible? Very unlikely. However, 38-year-old Anil Kumar is different. In spite of being a woodcutter, he braved all the odds to become an ace marathon runner!
Now, he has the golden opportunity to participate in the Asian Masters Athletics Championships in China! He needs to raise INR 77,000 to participate in the championship and win the competition.
Born to daily wage workers, and raised in Palakkad where his dad chopped wood for a living, and his mum worked as a coolie worker, Anil had little to dream about. His parents struggled throughout their lives but didn’t leave any stone unturned to educate Anil and his brother. In all these struggles, there was one thing that made Anil happy. He simply loved to run and beat his friends in a running race.
Officials in school too recognised Anil’s talent. They encouraged him to take part in sports and Anil did so gladly. Slowly and steadily Anil nurtured his talent with the support of others around him. He competed in several competitions and came out a winner.
However, as fate would have it, Anil had to discontinue his studies after 10th grade as the family was struggling to meet ends. Young, athletic Anil took to the axe and accompanied his father to chop wood. However, nothing could put an end to Anil’s aspiration of excelling in athletics.
His talent soon received the right recognition and he started participating in National Cross-Country Championships! He was at the 30th, 42nd, 44th, 45th and 47th National Cross-Country Championships to name a few which was supported by the Athletics Federation of India.
And after coming a long way, now, along with 60 other participants from India, Anil has been shortlisted to participate at the Asian Masters Athletics Championships which will take place in China in September this year. He will be participating in the 5000 MTS and 1000 MTS events at the championship.
Did you know that this is not the first chance Anil is getting to participate in international events?
He has, earlier been shortlisted for the following set of events:
2016 - Australian Athletics World Championships. (21 km marathon & 8 km cross country)
2015 - Lyon Cross Country Meet. (10 km & 5kms)
2015 - Brunei Open World Masters Athletics World Championship.
2014 - China Cross Country Meet. (10 km & 5km)
However, Anil could not make it to any of these international events. Because he was a woodcutter and didn’t have a regular job, Anil’s Visa was never approved. But now, things have changed. Anil works at the National Defence Pre-Recruitment Centre as a physical trainer.
But without your support, Anil will end up missing this opportunity too!
Help him fulfil his dream with your generous contributions.
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