India at Commonwealth Games: Gymnast Patra eyes medal for better life

Representational pictureIncluded in Indias Commonwealth Games gymnastics squad after going to court Rakesh Patra is desperate for a medal not just to prove his worth but also to become financially strong enough to change his familys fortunes The 26yearold artistic gymnast was included in Indias CWG squad after he filed a writ petition in the Delhi High Court when his name was initially omitted owing to a tussle between the Gymnastics federation and the Indian Olympic AssociationHailing from Odisha the World Cup finalist has endured a tough journey so far one that he hopes will ease up with a good CWG showing The many hardships of his life include surviving a fire tragedy that gutted his familys thatched hut at Hadagadia Sahi in Puri when he was about five years old But despite the challenges his father Dayanidhi Patra a primary school teacher in Brahmagiri School about 25 kilometres from Puri ensured that he got all that was needed to shape into a decent athleteHe would get about Rs 400 a month and spend more than half of that on me I have seen them sleep without eating on some days I still remember the pain Patra a chief petty officer in Indian Navy told PTI from Mumbai Despite the hardships senior Patra ensured that his son pursued his dreams on the insistence of his childhood coach Ashok Mishra and uncle Subhendu Patra a former gymnastMy uncle and coach told my father that I have a future in gymnastics Despite being in academics my father fully supported me He ensured everything thats needed to become a gymnast added Patra who bagged his first national medal at the 2004 SubJunior Nationals in Kolkata Its been a long journey for Patra who has been an India regular since 2010 Commonwealth and Asian Games and was part of five World Championships but a medal at the top level has eluded himIt remains a regret he admitted But I hope things would change in next two years he said The rings and parallel bars specialist made the finals in both the events of last months World Cup in Melbourne It included a fourth place finish in rings behind his opponents from Japan and China who will not be seen in Gold Coast something that has fuelled his dreams of a coveted medalIm not going there setting my eyes on the medal I know I will get a medal if Im able to give my best show on the given day said Patra who is based at Sports Authority of Indias Eastern Centre in Kolkata Im slowly reaching perfection Ive about 20 days left and I hope for a perfect outing in the CWG I will face strong opposition from England and Canada Patra who leaves with the Indian contingent from New Delhi on March 31 saidSupported by GoSports Foundation Patra went for a 20day strengthening stint in China in June last year and early this year he returned with three gold medals from an invitational meet in Hong Kong Patra has not visited his home for more than a year as his parents want him to keep focus on training I wanted to go there to dump my fathers cycle and gift a scooter to my father But he rejected my suggestions and told me first win a medal and then come I cannot let all their hardships go in vain he concludedCatch up on all the latest sports news and updates here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updatesThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever