Anuraj Sawant’s story is not one of limitation, but of limitless determination. The Holy Family High School (Andheri) athlete, who was born with an under-formed left arm, continues to redefine what courage looks like on the track.
On Tuesday, at the 131st Dream Sports Mumbai School Sports Association (MSSA) inter-school annual athletics meet at Wings Sports Centre, Bandra, Anuraj, 13, won the gold medal in the boys U-14 800 metres with an impressive timing of 2:25.5 seconds.
Anuraj Sawant’s mother Sharvari (left) ties his shoelaces at Wings Sports Centre, Bandra, on Tuesday. Pics/Satej Shinde
In a tightly-contested race, Ved Pujari of Children’s Academy (Malad) took the silver (2:25.7s), while Tanishq Manjrekar of IES VN Sule Guruji English Medium School (Dadar) won bronze (2:26.0s)
A day earlier, Anuraj clinched bronze in the U-14 boys 400m event, clocking 59.84 seconds. Aarush Chavan of Thakur Public School (Kandivli) won gold (57.30s), while Ved won the silver (59.43s).
Coach Dayanand Shetty, who trains Anuraj at the Dominic Savio ground in Andheri, praises his ward’s sincerity. “Anuraj is a rare talent. He’s always on time for training, completes every drill sincerely, and constantly works on his stamina and endurance without complaining,” Shetty told mid-day.
Anuraj’s father Shankar is a taxi driver, while mum Sharvari is a housewife, meaning their circumstances are modest. Yet, his younger brother Aradhya, nine, is also encouraged to take up sport and is excelling too. At the same meet, Aradhya has won two gold medals in the boys U-10 category (in long jump with a leap of 4.46m and in the 100m dash, clocking 14.75 seconds)
Interestingly, Anuraj is crystal clear about his path ahead. “My parents and my coach have decided that when I turn 14, I will start competing in para events. My dream is to win a Paralympic medal for India,” Anuraj told mid-day. The big challenges notwithstanding however, it’s the little things that irk the teenager: “The only problem I face is in tying my shoelaces.”
2min 25.50sec
Timing with which Anuraj Sawant won the gold medal at the boys U-14 800m final
59.84sec
Timing with which Anuraj Sawant won the bronze medal in the boys U-14 400m race
