Poverty virtually drives Thavanesvaran to success in APG

KUALA LUMPUR: Driven by poverty, sprinter S. Thavanesvaran had to virtually run the race of his life in order to have a career in sports and to ensure that his family could experience a better lifestyle.
Thavanesvaran, 18, already a winner of two gold medals in the 9th Asean Para Games, through the men’s 400m T44 with a time of 56.43s on Monday and the 100m T42/43/44 with a time of 12.06s, plus a silver medal from the 4x100m (T42-T47) relay, hopes that his success at the APG in his maiden appearance, will be the beginning of a better future for him and his family.
The teenager from Segamat, Johor, was brought up in an estate where his parents were rubber tappers.
“My parents are rubber tappers," he told reporters here today. "I hope my success in the APG will be the beginning of better days to come for me and my family. I want to dedicate the gold medals to my parents, brother, and coach who have supported me all these years.”
The student from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Datuk Ahmad Arshad said though he was interested in playing football as a kid, his brother spotted his talent and speed before encouraging him to take up running.
"I was very keen to play football and when my brother noticed my speed while playing football, he advised me to take up running and concentrate on my athletics career instead. He was always confident that I can become a successful runner one day.
“My brother always asked me to focus on training although I could not attend proper training because we did not have the money,” said Thavanesvaran who hopes to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.
Despite making his debut in the APG, Thavanesvaran has been entered for four events, namely 100, 200m, 400m and 4x100m.
He will be competing in the 200m tomorrow.
The APG, which features 16 sports that offer 368 gold medals, ends on Saturday. — Bernama