Meet Shashaank Saravanakumar, a younger para bike owner breaking limitations in Coimbatore

Shashaank Saravanakumar | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Fourteen-year-old Shashaank Saravanakumar could also be soft-spoken, however on the highway, his dedication speaks volumes. A scholar of St Antony’s School, Puliyakulam, Coimbatore, Shashaank not too long ago made his mark on the first Para-national Road Cycling Championship held in Hyderabad. Representing Tamil Nadu within the CII (Intellectual Impairment) class for juniors below 19, he accomplished the 12-km race in a formidable 43 minutes and 32 seconds, securing fifth place in a discipline of seasoned younger riders from throughout India.

But for Shashaank, biking is greater than competitors. “Cycling means enjoyable and happiness to me. Every journey tells me a narrative,” he says with a vivid smile. It is a ardour that started when he acquired his first fundamental cycle from Decathlon. Encouraged by his mom to journey every day, his enthusiasm deepened when his grandfather gifted him a hybrid bicycle in Class 7. What started as a life talent blossomed right into a calling.

His typical day begins early, with a 20 to 25 km journey by means of the streets of Coimbatore. His mom follows intently on her scooter for security, whereas his health coach, Ranjit, guides him by means of energy routines within the morning or night. “My coach Kathir Sir performed a serious position in educating me biking strategies,” says Shashaank. “And my twin brother Shreenick is my driving accomplice and motivator. We go biking collectively typically.” On weekends, he joins fellow cyclists from the CooKoo Cycling Club for longer distance rides.

While Shashaank enjoys the wind in his hair and the tales the highway tells him, the journey has not been with out its challenges. “Traffic was an issue at first,” he admits, “however I discovered to beat it.”

His choice to symbolize Tamil Nadu on the Para-nationals was a second of immense pleasure. “I felt so completely satisfied to put on the yellow jersey of Tamil Nadu,” he remembers. The expertise in Hyderabad was unforgettable. “There had been so many cyclists from throughout India. I wasn’t nervous—I used to be excited to satisfy everybody!”

Crossing the end line in fifth place stuffed him with a quiet confidence. “I assumed I’d be a chef,” he says, a nod to his dream of changing into one sooner or later. Shashaank will not be one to search for position fashions. “No, I’ll create my very own type,” he says.

That ambition extends past simply medals. “I need to win the para-cycling championship subsequent 12 months and symbolize India within the Paralympics,” he says.

When he isn’t coaching or racing, you will discover Shashaank serving to his mom within the kitchen or swimming. He is particularly keen on prepare journeys, at all times selecting the window seat so he can watch the surroundings go by. It is identical sense of marvel that fuels his rides, watching the world roll previous, one pedal at a time.

Published – April 23, 2025 11:46 am IST