A badminton star who runs a tea shop in Melur for a living

Disabled T.Elanchelian runs a tea shop at the village bus stop in A Vellalapatti village in Melur taluk. His story is worth telling not just because he is disabled but because a badminton player who has won medals in 17 national and two international shuttle badminton events should be offered better ways to earn his bread.

Elanchelian’s request seeking a government job has been pending with the government for many years. After his father deserted him and his mother 13 years ago, Elanchelian has been working to put food on the plate for his family. His brother, although working in the police department, is settled elsewhere.

“Elanchelian was born in 1980. He was afflicted with polio when he was one year old. However, we joined him at the government higher secondary school in our village and he completed his plus two there itself,” said Naachammal, his mother.

Elanchelian’s tryst with badminton started when he took part in the Madurai district-level badminton game in 1998 and won. This was a turning point, Naachammal said.

Elanchelian won several medals at the state and the national level thereafter.

“In 2002 I attended an international event in Chennai and bagged bronze. I had to settle for silver at an event held in Sri Lanka in 2007,” Elanchelian said.

Elanchelian was denied an opportunity to represent India for the third time at an event in Germany last November as he could not afford the trip. “The event was held in Germany. I couldn’t attend it as I didn’t have money,” said Elanchelian.

Elanchelian’s medals include 8 gold medals, 10 silver medals and 13 bronze medals in various events.

Despite being promised a government job last year after winning a gold medal in the national games held in Chennai in 2013, Elanchelian continues to run his tea shop.

Distraught at the government’s lack of action on the issue, Elanchelian said : “The government extending many welfare measures for the people may consider the poor disabled sports people issue too.”

Elanchelian now trains 14 students including two disabled persons in shuttle badminton at his local place.