Rio Olympics berth lifts weight off Satish’s shoulders

Chennai

Coming from the small town of Sathuvachari in Vellore district, that boasts of having produced five Olympians, three Arjuna award winners and a number of international weightlifters, Satish was naturally inclined to take up the sport. At the Olympic qualification event for Rio, he lifted a total of 336 kg (151 in snatch and 185 in clean and jerk) to top the charts. He qualified with ease in what was a perfect birthday gift for the weightlifter, who is due to turn 25 in a week.

‘Sacrifice’ is a word that the family is well acquainted with: Satish’s  father, Sivalingam, an ex-serviceman and a security officer at the Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), struggled to make ends meet while fuelling Satish’s sporting ambitions.

“My dad used to get a meagre salary from VIT and would spend it all on my training. He also took care of his brother’s and sister’s families and used to buy gifts for them with his pension. When it came to my training, there was never a ‘no’ from him. My nutritious diet (milk, proteins, fruits) came at a premium and never once was I denied of anything,” Satish recalled.

There was no room for luxuries for Satish. “I never had swanky sports gear or a nice pair of shoes,” he said.  It was his father’s faith in him that motivated him. “My father never complained. I was always kept in the dark about how he managed the family as he feared I would get distracted. He always had confidence in my abilities and that has paid rewards now,” added a thrilled Satish.
 
Satish’s tryst with the sport started in 2007 when he competed at a school meet. His father noticed a spark in his son and encouraged him to do better. “Satish loved challenges. He wanted a gift every time he was challenged to better his previous performance. I was able to fulfil some promises of buying gifts, but even when I didn’t, he took it in his stride and looked forward to the next challenge. It was probably winning those smaller challenges that has made him strong today,” Sivalingam said.

After winning the gold at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Satish received an award of Rs. 50 lakh for his achievement. “That money was enough to repay some old loans that my father had taken for my training. The rest was spent on my training further,” Satish said.

The fact that it has been more than 18 months since Satish visited home doesn’t worry his parents. “He is in pursuit of his dream. Let him win a medal at the Olympics and come home. He will be welcomed like a true champion,” his father added.