Joshua Ruthnaswamy’s fascination with water sports started seven years ago when he came across rowers at Ulsoor Lake.
Recently, the 14-year-old won gold for the single scull rowing event at the annual Regatta organised by the Asian School Rowing Association, becoming one of the youngest to do so.
The tournament which was held in Chennai between July 26 and 31 saw Joshua win all of six races competing against top Asian teams to bag the gold.
“The win came as a great relief for me as I didn’t do well at the nationals held at Roorkee, a few months before the Asian Regatta,” confesses Joshua.
Like many young sportspersons in the West, Joshua too is home schooled and is focusing on a serious career in rowing. “The opportunities to make it big in rowing are few in India. Only a couple of handpicked units of SAI in states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu train rowers. In other places it comes down to individual aspirations to make it big in this sport,” he says.
Also rowing being an extremely physical sport requires high mental alertness to succeed.
Looking closely at Joshua reveals that the top rower is no different from other teenagers. He loves watching Hollywood movies. “Angelina Jolie and Leonardo DiCaprio starrers are my favourite,” he says.
As for Bollywood flicks, he prefers to stay away from the marathon three hour long dramas filled with cheesy songs and dance sequences. “I love music though,” he says adding David Guetta, Jason Marz, Greenday and Taylor Swift to be his favourites.