Mathew Rocha Chacko rowed to bring India victory at the Asian rowing championships in December, but he still has to make sure he gets his daily meals as rowing does not provide him with a livelihood.

A native of the Kainakari panchayat in Kuttanad, Chacko is now anxious about his family. He works as a clay collector on daily wages in order to find the Rs 14,000 a month that he needs as interest for the money he borrowed for his training.

Chacko and his team, who represented India at the Asian rowing championship held in Thailand won silver and bronze medals and have broken Indian records in the past. Says Chacko, “I borrowed three lakh rupees to prepare for the championships but I have not been able to return the money.

Even though I performed well in the championships, I was refused any monetary reward. The canoeing and kayaking association and sports council told us that the prize money would be given to the winners but they cheated us,” he revealed to DC.

Chacko’s love for rowing came from his uncles who were well-known snake-boat rowers in Kuttanad and he has been keen about the sport ever since he was a kid.

A BSc in zoology, Chacko was selected to join the military in 2004, but did not continue in service as his ambition to participate in the Olympics as a rower cost him his job. “I asked my seniors to let me go as my goal was not military service. So, they released me without complications after I had completed three years in service,” he added.

Chacko, the father of a one-year-old girl, started his career as a professional rower in 1997 participating in more than 50 state, national and international championships.

He was born to a small and economically backward family but was encouraged by his father after he showed an interest in rowing. Kuttanad, the land of water festivals helped him showcase his talent in rowing. “Gradually my craze for rowing made me desperate to show off my skills,’’ he says.

“I am still confident I could definitely win a gold medal if I could participate in the world rowing championships expected to be held in Italy sometime in August. But because of the lack of financial resources I have had to let go of my dream. Now I feel I have no hope,” Chacko said.

“The people from whom I borrowed money have lost confidence in me and this has resulted in daily tension at home. They come to my home shouting un-parliamentary language against my mother and wife. Following this I dropped my wife and daughter at my in-law’s home last week. Monday was my thirty first birthday, but I couldn’t even have a meal with my wife and parents as the moneylenders made sit in the courtyard of my home,” he wept adding that he did not even have the courage to commit suicide.

When asked why he had not tried to get a job even though he is a graduate, he replied that he requires Rs14,000 a month which he had to pay as interest on the money he borrowed.

It is unfortunate that even though Chacko brought home several accolades including those that he won in the national dragon rowing championship held in Bhopal in 2011, there is no one willing to help this talented rower.

It would be a crime if he were to forgo the championships in Italy. Justice should prevail and this hapless rower should be in a position to bring glory to India once again.