Selim Reza, whose right leg is four inches shorter than his left, scripted an inspirational story for the next generation of athletes with physical disadvantages by winning the high jump gold in the 36th edition of the National Junior Athletics.
Hailing from Kushtia, Selim, who represented Narail district in the meet, jumped 1.80m to bag gold medal ahead of the more able-bodied athletes.
Selim, whose love for high jump was cultivated through the inter-school competition, met local coach Dilip a few years ago.
Selim's right leg is four inches short of his left leg BAF
Alongside the guidance of Dilip, Selim finished fourth in the 2018 edition of the National Junior Athletics, and bettered his performance the following year by placing third.
Having faced off against the able-bodied athletes, the journey has been anything but easy for Selim, youngest of four brothers, and his farmer father dreams his youngest son would bring laurels for the country in future.
Selim lists South African athlete Oscar Pistorius as his inspiration.
OTHER GOLD WINNERS
1500m (men) – Mohammad Al Mamun (Pabna District Sports Association)
1500m (women) – Tanjina Akter (Noakhali DSA)
Javelin (men) – Mehedi Hasan (Kushtia DSA)
Long jump (men) – Mohammad Akram Hossain (Jessore DSA)
High jump (boys) – Nur Alam (Jessore DSA)
100m (men) – Mohammad Akram Hossain (Jessore DSA)
100m (women) – Sumaiya Dewan (Manikganj DSA)
4*100 relay (women) – Sadia Khanam, Sanchita Kormokar, Nomita Kormokar, Ruma Khanam (Narail DSA)