Thavanesvaran can walk tall now with gold around his neck

S. THAVANESVARAN (pic) could not walk until he was seven years old as the veins in his left foot were damaged during delivery.

It was only after he underwent surgery on his foot and calf that he was able to walk.

Even then, he has to wear two different sizes of shoes and spikes because his left foot is smaller than his right foot.

His right foot is size six while his left foot is size three.

The Segamat-born para athlete, however, made a memorable debut in the Kuala Lumpur Asean Para Games when he won the men’s 400m T44 (amputation and others, including athletes with dwarfism) in 56.43 seconds.

The 18-year-old Thavanesvaran was trailing 5m behind leader and blade runner Kyaw Kway Win of Myanmar at the 300m mark.

The Malaysian then turned on the power in the last 100m to pip Kyaw win, who dived at the finish line.

But it was Thavanesvaran who hit the tape first — finishing 0.05 of a second ahead of Kyaw Win (56.48).

Cambodian Chim Phan clocked 58.28 for the bronze.

Thavanesvaran, a Form Five student of SMK Dato Mas Arshad in Segamat, said that he was frustrated when he couldn’t walk until he was seven.

“My left foot and calf were damaged during birth. I had to undergo surgery when I was seven years old. I thank God that I was able to walk after that,” said Thavaneswaran, who was clearly thrilled with his effort at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

“I’m happy to have made a golden debut. I never expected to win the 400m as I’ve never competed in it before.

“I’m a sprinter and my favourite events are the 100m and 200m. I ran the 400m this time on the request of my coach Nazri Uda.”

Thavanesvaran is down to compete in three more events — the 100m and 4x100m today and 200m on Friday.

“Winning the 400m has boosted my confidence to go for the sprint double — 100m and 200m.

“I must thank my dad (Subramaniam) for telling me to take up athletics when I was 13.

“It also feels good to deliver a gold for Malaysia,” said Thavanesvaran.