The Making of a Champion at Ten: Master Kumaresan wins National Sailing Championship
Kumaresan is a ten year old boy, who believed in himself and in whom Plan believes. Kumaresan lives with his parents in Srinivasapuram, a poor fishing community in Tamil Nadu. Plan India helped this boy realized his dreams.
For the first time probably in the sailing history of India, Kumaresan, belonging to the fisherman community won the National Sailing Championship!
Kumaresan, a 10 years old boy from Srinivasapuram, Chennai, participated regularly in the psychosocial care training program organized by RIDO-Plan.
He was interested in sailing and boat race. The counselor identified his interest and motivated him to participate in the training program organized by Tamil Nadu Sailing Association -Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu. Kumaresan was selected to participate in the National level competition at Pune.
But for the boy, it was not all that easy .The ten days stay at Pune was difficult “The food was not to my taste & I missed my parents, but there was a constant drive to win within me” said Kumaresan. His proud mother Malar said, “I never dreamt that my son would participate in such race and win”.
