Wrestler becomes loader in Kochi to fund his participation in world championship

Kochi, Sept 27 : A three-time arm-wrestling national champion is working as a loader in Kochi to raise funds for participating in world arm-wrestling championship slated for November in Canada.

The 27-year-old, Snibu S Ravi works as a loader at the Kochi market, carrying sacks loaded with cement or rice over his head, in a bid to raise funds for taking part in the international championship.

Having spent his day lifting loads, the arm wrestler practices hard in the night to pull up his muscles and prepare for the forthcoming international wrestling event.

Despite his striving hard to raise the required funds, Ravi is well aware that his daily earning of approximately 220 rupees is too meager to finance his tour to Canada and says that his only hope now is a sponsor.

"If we get a sponsor, we still can hope to reach there for which we are working hard, I think each one of us require more than 1.5 lakh rupees for our flight ticket and other arrangements. I know with my mere wages I cannot make it, only sponsors can help us now," said Ravi.

The three-time champion who won the 110-plus class for three successive years since 2005 is banking on his friends and sports lovers. His friends have helped him play in the domestic tournaments and Ravi has never let them down.

Mukunda Kumar, Ravi's instructor after knocking at various doors for help said that they urgently need a sponsor and government should come forward to help them.

"If government helps us then only there is a chance otherwise we need a sponsor," said Mukunda Kumar.

After winning three medals in the Olympics, Indians feel that the country has got the much-awaited break in the sports. They hope that the government and private institutions would help the athletes in fulfilling their aspirations. By Juhan Samuel

ANI