Disabled world champ debarred from exams

SAMBALPUR: Pramod Bhagat's joys knew no bounds after winning the world championship in badminton for the disabled in Seoul recently. But Pramod's

institute in Hirakud decided to "honour" him differently. The promising lad was debarred him from appearing in the final exams because of poor attendance.

But this setback did not dent the youth's will to excel. "I am now studying hard for next year's examination," said Pramod, who won the single standing-waist-below-class-one category beating Sub Pong of Thailand in the final of the 2009 championship hosted by the International Badminton Association for Disabled (IBAD). "I was absent from my institute for two months because I had gone to participate in a preparatory training at Angul ahead of the championship in South Korea," he added.

ITI (Hirakud) principal Nisakar Mallick confirmed that Pramod was not allowed to sit for his final year exam. "We have, however, told him to give an application so that we can reconsider his case," Mallick added.

Pramod, who has a defect on his left leg, hails from Attabira in Bargarh district. He started his career while he was 15.

Despite his disability, he continued playing badminton. His talent was discovered by the members of a club at Attabira and they encouraged him to go ahead. But financial crunch made him lose the golden chance of participating in the Israeli Open championship held in Jerusalem in 2005.

The efforts of a few generous people from the locality, led by Rabi Panda, saw him launch his international career in 2006, when he participated in the Asia Pacific games in Malaysia. "I lost in the quarter finals, but the international exposure and experience helped me a lot," Pramod said.

In the 2007 World Badminton Championship for the Disabled held in Bangkok, Pramod established his credentials in the international arena by grabbing the bronze medal in both the single and doubles categories.

He went on to win the gold in the doubles and the bronze in the singles categories in the Asia Para-Olympic held in Thailand in 2008. But the crowning moment came when he got the gold in the Seoul world championship.

Pramod's on court heroics, however, has failed to impress the district administration. "When we saw Pramod's talent, we tried to encourage him. We are grateful to everyone who helped him to become the world champion. But we are sorry to say that neither the government nor the district administration has till date come forward to reward his talent," said Rabi Panda, senior member of Players' Club at Attabira.

Hailing from a poor family, Pramod is one among six brother and sisters. He has shouldered the responsibility of the family ever since the death of his father two years ago.

"He is a jewel of Orissa. The government should provide a scholarship to him. The OCA has provided Rs 25,000 to him on our request. He would bring more gold to the country if he gets proper financial assistance and promotion," Sambalpur sport association general secretary Sabbir Hussein said.