KANNUR: A forty-four-year-old woman who crawled the steps of the Power Max gymnasium in Pilathara two years ago became the National Para Powerlifting Champion a week ago. PV Lathika, a native of Thumpathadam in Mathamangalam, who was paralyzed below the waist due to polio, overcame the challenges and won a gold medal at the National Powerlifting Championships in Kolkata. The next goal is to win the 2024 World Championships. For that she needs better training. Lathika is hoping that her native place will help her raise the money needed for that.

Other governments have already rewarded the winners. The West Bengal government gave Rs 5 lakh for first place, Rs 4 lakh for second place and Rs 3 lakh for third place. Winners in Gujarat were offered jobs. Lathika is hoping for assistance from the Kerala government.

Last year, the Social Welfare Department honoured Lathika with the Differently Abled Sports Award.

She does not own a house or land. She lives with her mother PV Padmavathi, sister Latha and nephew PV Sageeth in a ramshackle shelter. Lathika, her mother, and sister are weavers. They live on a meagre income. Her father A. Kunhiraman died a long time ago. Lathika is trying to appear for the Class X Equivalent Examination.

Encouragement from Basheer

Basheer Panappuzha, who is close to Lathika's home, encouraged her to enter the competition.

It started with the 2017 competition held at Mundayad Indoor Stadium in Kannur. In 2018, she represented Kerala in Nagpur. In 2019, she won silver in the National Powerlifting in Bangalore. Lathika returned with gold in Powerlifting for Kerala in the competition held in Kolkata from March 18 to 20 this year.