Vijaya Shanthi – The Visionary

What would any of us do, when our body temperature read more than 100 degrees F, with a frequent need of throwing up alongside a dislocated thumb finger?

Work from home/take few days off, update our Whatsapp and FB with our health ‘Status’, visit the doctor, Google resources on ‘Finger dislocation’, etc etc.. ??

Meet Vijayashanthi, the 2016 CommonWealth (South Africa) Judo Gold Medalist, from Kongarampattu Gram Panchayat, of Kannamangalam Village in Tiruvannamalai District, buckling down, to ensure her Motherland, the next Gold Medal from the upcoming Rio 2016 Olympics!

“My mobile battery is getting drained. I will take up the interview right away as I’m not sure when the power will resume!”

The practicality in her approach and the ground reality of our villages shook me as I heard VijayaShanthi the owner of 1 Bronze and 3 Gold Medals so far, speaking modestly, when I requested her time for a short telephone interview.

Born to poor farmers Ravi and Lakshmi as the last child, VC Vijayashanthi, had an innate love for athletics since childhood. Standing first in the victory stand for many athletic events became habitual to her.

She was in her 12th Standard when she was first introduced to Judo, though she had already befriended Karate. It was then she realized Judo is also a martial art!

“I met UmaShankar sir in Queen Mary’s College who led me to Stadiums and three National meets in Delhi, Goa and Lucknow. And the Gold Medal won in Lucknow took me to CommonWealth 2016”, says VijayaShanthi gleefully as she speaks about her coach who she considers as her mentor and pillar of support.

Her journey to Common Wealth started with handholding.

Yes!, for any VC person, Judo learning starts by ‘touching and hand holding the opponent’ for different techniques followed by rigorous practises that includes initially practising against normal sighted and well experienced opponents and gradually playing against another VC opponent. 

Interestingly, her practice opponent is Sushila, another VC Judoka who also bagged Gold Medal for India, in 2016 CommonWealth Judo(South Africa) Championship!

“As I hear Hajime(start) and when the opponent casts the entire energy or weight on me, that moment instantly I would know exactly what technique to apply to defeat my opponent. It’s all in my inner feeling. And my favourite techniques are Uki Otosho(Floating drop) and Koshi Waza (Hip throw). The shortest time I took was 3 minutes(she laughs)  ”, – These words still resonate in my ears, when I asked her how she judges on the tactics to defeat her opponent! 

2014, South Korea, her third judo Olympic proved to be her turning point and a constant motivating factor.

“I missed the gold medal in a minute difference. That was when I decided I would bag MY GOLD henceforth. Because my master UmaShankaran Sir says, you can do, keep trying. You should practice despite failures and pains! And everytime when someone says you cannot I would take it as I CAN”

Obviously, “What motivates you?” was my question.

Already a B.A, and presently pursuing B.Ed from SRM University, Vijayashanthi wants to become a judo teacher for all those interested in Judo without limiting herself to teaching VC people.

“It’s not enough that I alone learn and achieve. Every woman in whatever walk of life they are involved must be successful for a better India! Though by mere learning of Judo or a martial art a woman can safeguard herself to some extent, it is more in the presence of mind in applying what one has learned. And that doesn’t get limited to martial arts alone”!

“Awesome! What an insight!”-   My heart screamed as she put forth her views on Indian Women in Sports and Violence against women.

To my question on her journey from Kongarampattu to CommonWealth,  describing her feeling she says,  “I really feel proud. Please do convey my heartfelt gratitude to Bharath Anna from Lit the Light! CommonWealth wouldn’t have been possible without him. He arranged my to and for expenses in just a day or two’s time!”

We both said a good bye as she closed her conversation with her voice and heart brimming with utmost gratitude to Lit the light, her coach and her parents for what she is today!

I thought to myself. Her challenge is only sight, not VISION!

Watch out for photos of Felicitation for winners by LTL

Article by Anuradha