Jajpur: Success is achieved through strong willpower and hard work. A physically challenged youth from Balichandrapur area of Jajpur district has brought glory to the district and state by winning gold and silver medals in national-level sports.
All because of his sheer perseverance and hard work. The bodybuilder, Gyanaranjan Sahu earns his livelihood by running a paan shop in Balichandrapur bazaar. The youth was afflicted with polio when he was 4 and his lower limbs became non-functional.
However, he strived hard by going to school and passing the matriculation exam, all by himself. A few years back, Sahu went to a nearby gym and started improving his physical strength and building his body. At this time, he learned a lot by watching YouTube about how Divyangs can go forward in various fields and be equal to the able-bodied.
Later, he prepared himself to participate in weightlifting competitions. In November 2019, his morale was boosted after Sahu participated in the general category competition at the Railway association event in Manchueshwar, Bhubaneswar.
In the meantime, he continued his efforts and participated in the national-level weightlifting held in Chhattisgarh and won a silver medal. Later, he participated in the national level in Delhi and Kolkata and bagged silver and gold medals. Now he is working as a trainer in a gym, training youngsters.
“The gym owner said that Sahu does not take any kind of remuneration for this. As a gym worker, he opened his own pan shop in Balichandrapur Bazar. He earns his living from that. Even after all this, he never craved for government assistance. However, Sahu has the wish to participate in the Olympic games.
Locals of Balichandrapur said that Sahu is an inspiration for all, PWDs and able-bodied people. His determination and grit is exemplary and youths of the locality under his tutelage have taken up healthy living and positive thinking.
