Bullet rips into T runner’s thigh

News pulse, Politics | admin | May 29, 2010 at 9:26 am

A bullet has shattered the dreams of a champion long-distance Telanganite runner who is now in deep despair on when he could be up on his feet again.

Shoban Kumar, 23 year old BA final year student of Mahabubabad Government Degree College, is nursing a bullet wound on his left thigh after being fired at by gunmen of the Congress MLA, Konda Surekha, on May 28 2010 at the railway station. Along with other injured Telangana protesters, Shoban was also shifted to MGM Hospital. His father, Kisti who works in a sand quarry for daily wages, is by his side.

Shoban, who comes from a poor family, did Warangal and the state proud by winning gold in the 5,000 metre cross country race in the under 19 National Athletics Championship in Pune in 2004.

A resident of Baluthanda in Korruvi mandal, Shoban went on to bag gold and silver in the under 20 National Athletics Championship at Khammam for the 5000-metre cross-country race and 10,000 metre race. This was followed by a silver medal at Amravati, Maharashtra, in the men’s open athletics championship in 2007.

Shoban, who is well recognised in sports circles in Warangal, was dreaming of representing the country in long-distance races. He trains himself rigorously.

“I felt that if I get the right coaching and nutrition, I could make it big in the international arena,” said Shoban, who had earlier received special coaching for long-distance running at Chalasani Babu Rajendra Prasad Athletics Academy for six months in 2008, and again at the SAP at Sardar Patel stadium, Khammam, for nine months.

MGM doctors said that the youth had suffered a “penetrating injury,” but are confident that he would be running again.

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