Niyas leaps ahead of his visual impairment; gold in 100m

KOCHI: Niyas Ahamed does not have even 50 per cent vision. He had no coach to train him. Although Niyas could practice on the synthetic track only for three days, he did not give up. Niyas Ahamed crossed the finish line wearing a thick spectacle and won the gold medal in the sub-junior boys' 100metres at the State School Sports Meet.

Niyas is also proud that he overcame his limitations and won the first gold for Kasargod. Niyas is a class 9 student of Angadimogaru GHSS. Niyas Ahamed finished in 12.40 seconds. In the photo finish, he defeated Sourav S of Kollam by a margin of microseconds to win the gold medal. Niyas's proud achievement was witnessed by his father Abdul Hamid and grandmother Mariam.

Niyas's family consulted a doctor when they saw him holding a book close to his eyes to read and stumbling while walking. Niyas was found to be 50 per cent visually impaired.

Many treatments were performed, but there was no other option but to wear high-powered glasses. Niyas can't even see the objects nearby if he takes off his glasses. However, those limitations did not prevent Niyas from becoming the fastest man on the track.

Synthetic track 55 km away

The training took place on the 200-metre non-finished mud track at the school. Niyas ran on the synthetic track for only three days for the school meet. For that, he had to travel 55 km from home to reach EMS Stadium in Neeleswaram.

Niyas and his family live in a leased house at Angadimogaru in Kasaragod. His father owns a small footwear shop. His mother is Naseema and he has three brothers.

"More synthetic tracks should come up in Kasaragod. We should also be considered." That's what Niyas needs.