KUNNAMKULAM: Even after climbing the arduous challenge, and winning gold in the school sports meet, Geethu had dew eyes with tears just waiting to pop out. The gold medal winner's father is waiting for hip replacement surgery. Her mother still carries the long-stalled dream of owning a house. There is still a mountain of misery in front of Geethu, but that proved no hindrance for her to attain the gold medal.

Geethu achieved gold while competing in the junior girls' 3km walk at the state sports festival. While she was getting ready to start, a thought spiralled into her head and soon, concern was palpable on her face. Geethu had an injury to both legs and only started practising last week. During last year’s event, she was dominant and won gold in a canter. Geethu wanted to retain the gold back but the odds were against her.

Geethu K P of Alathiyur KHMHS, Malappuram touched the finish line in 16 minutes 44.87 seconds and took away the gold in one fruitful victory. Her father K P Chandran, mother Rajani and sister Seethu seemed to be lost away from their world of misery and were bursting with joy hearing Geethu’s win.

Geethu trains under Riyas Alathiyur and her school sports teacher Shajir. She was injured after training on an uneven turf. She was not even allowed to train under a proper field and always had to rely on uneven lands and turfs. Sadly, this got her injured too.

Chandran, an auto-rickshaw driver, was bedridden in an accident 12 years ago. Treatment has been ongoing since then. Now the hip needs to be replaced. The family is currently staying in a rented house in Tirur's B P town. Chandran has pleaded for help from authorities to allow him land or house but was ignored. He has now submitted an application to Thalakkad gram panchayat for land.

Chandran suffered an accident in 2011 when a car collided with his auto rickshaw in Othukkungal, Malappuram. His whole body was injured and he was bedridden for three years. Later, doctors advised him to a hip replacement surgery and the date has been now fixed for October 28th. The entire insurance amount received after the accident was spent on treatment. He is being treated at Perinthalmanna MES Hospital.