Thiruvananthapuram: George K. Thomas, 34, spine injured and confined to a wheelchair, is all set to leave for Bangkok next month to participate in the World Cup Para Archery tournament. It was a freak road accident 11 years ago that changed his life forever. But that did not deter him from pursuing his passion for playing cricket and archery. Mr Thomas, who is currently residing at Angamaly in Ernakulam, has been practising archery at home as the city is yet to have a training centre.
Despite being confined to a wheelchair for more than a decade now, he was keen to lead a normal life like any other person. He did succeed in it as he motivated several dozen wheelchair-bound patients. The Thiruvananthapuram Nalanchira native had been relentlessly working for such like-minded people and has been propagating messages on road safety and held medical camps in Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram. Though he has been wheelchair bound, he did not forget his love towards cricket. But since there was no cricket team for wheelchair patients, he had to steer his love towards some other sport, and he came across archery.
“I have been practising archery for the last two years now. But there has been no proper place for training either in Thiruvananthapuram or Kochi. I was forced to have a makeshift practice centre in front of my wife’s home at Angamaly,” he said. He practised under A. M. Kishore who is also physically challenged. In fact, Mr Kishore is also taking part in the archery tournament in Bangkok being kicked off on Dec 10.
Though Mr Thomas confesses that it’s a strain on his health practising twice a day, his desire to win a medal is pushing him forth to work hard. As a prelude to the World Cup Para Archery tournament, he is heading to 9th Ekalavya tournament in Salem, Tamil Nadu, on Nov 18. He is married to Jasmine Isaac who has also been confined to the wheelchair after a road accident.
