Jharsuguda’s wonder Kid, who swims at an age of 4 years
Jharsuguda:�It is hard to believe that a 4 year and 11 months old boy, who doesn�t know how to speak properly, but he is able to swim very comfortably in his village pond at Bhaurachakka Village under Lakhanpur Block.
Druga Prasad Sidar, who is just 4 years and 11 months 20 days old, is now the talk of town for his swimming skills at such a young age. He has not taken any sort of training and learnt swimming skills from his own.
He was raised by his mother, Sasmita Dhurua in his parental Village Bhaurachakka. After getting married, she parted with her husband when Durga Prasad Sidar was in her womb and had come to Bhaurachakka Village and started living with her parents. Since then, she has been raising Durga Prasad alone by making Bidi�s and sometimes by working as a daily labourer.
Her Mother, Sasmita Dhurua says, � He has been swimming since past two years, whenever I used to go to Village Pond for cleaning clothes, he used to accompany me and during that time he used to get into the water and play, Gradually, he learnt how to swim own his own. Since then he has been swimming. Initially I used to fear when he entered the pond. Even many villagers used to advise me not to allow my kid inside the pond as he might get drowned but subsequently, the villagers also got convinced that he can swim easily. After seeing my young kid swimming, I also allowed him to swim. He can now swim from one end of the pond to the other end of the pond which is around 200 metre. I don�t have any capacity to provide him any sort of training, But, if someone or the Government provides any sort of training to him, I am very sure that he can improve his swimming skills and may bring laurels to his village and country. As a mother I would like to see my son excel in this field.�
�We have been seeing him since 2 years, he used to come to bath along with his mother and have learnt swimming on his own, just like a grownup child. He can easily swim in our village pond which has a depth of 15feet. He has been swimming like a professional swimmer. He easily covered a distance of 200 metre. It is quite surprising for us that a small kid is able to swim alone. I think if he is provided some sort of training than he might build his career in swimming, I request government to kindly support such talent from this age itself.� said Balaram Biswal, a local resident of Villagers
Jharsuguda District Collector Saroj Kumar Samal said, �Lakhanpur Block Development Officer and District Sports officer will be sent to the village to ascertain the matter. They will interact with the family members and see how we can extend economic support to them initially and if we find any ability in the child then we see how we can support him at his right age, as he is very young at this time.�