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Slumdogs extraordinaire on brink of glory
Two young neighbours from a Bhopal slum will represent India in the world fencing championship slated between September 30 and October 8 in Antalya, Turkey, writes Firoz Mirza.
Two young neighbours from a Bhopal slum will represent India in the world fencing championship slated between September 30 and October 8 in Antalya, Turkey.
Born and brought up in narrow lanes of Om Nagar slum, Amardeep Basediya and Himalaya Vishwakarma, both 20, were selected for the international event on September 7.
Himalaya’s father Harka Vishwakarma sells chaat and Amardeep’s father Munshi Basediya is a peon in the state’s sports department.
When he was 11, Himalaya pursued fencing, an unconventional sport and never looked back since.
A student of Bachelor of Physical Education (BP .Ed), Himalaya won bronze in individual and silver in team events in the Senior National Games held in Manipur in 2008.
“I used to help my father run the chaat thela during my childhood,” Himalaya told
Hindustan Times
.
He is quite optimistic of winning medals in the upcoming event. Amardeep started fencing a year earlier than his friend. He has won four gold, six silver and seven bronze medals at the national level in his 10-year fencing career.
Son of a class IV employee, Amardeep had tough time pursuing his passion. “ But grit and determination has got me a place in national team for the World Championship”, he says.
