Flushed cheeks, rumpled hair and a gleeful smile, one would think Balaji Vijayshankar has just come back from a game of football. But the reality is far removed from it. If someone was to watch the 12-year-old astride Dark Shadow they would be awestruck by the precision and confidence with which he takes his horse through show jumping events, often crossing barricades which quite match his height.
Cheerful and bubbly, this class seven student from Vidya Shilp Academy has created quite an impression since his arrival on the competitive arena about four months ago.
He’s one of the brightest prospects on a horse in the city and Balaji surely knows where he’s heading.
On his foray into the sport, the chirpy lad said, “You know something just clicks within you sometimes, that’s what I felt when I saw a horse. I just love being around them. I started riding three years ago when we got an opportunity to sign up for the sport. I really enjoy it and it is more a passion than a sport for me.”
His passion saw him move from Delhi to Bengaluru this year. “I’m basically from Bengaluru but we moved to Delhi because of my father’s job. In July this year I came over to the Embassy International Riding School for a camp and decided this is where I wanted to be, since back in Delhi there isn’t much scope for riding and I wasn’t getting good training. So my mother and I moved to this city,” said Bala, as he is popularly known.
In between riding sessions and academics, Balaji rarely finds time for other activities, and he says it’s a choice he’s made and doesn’t miss out on too much fun. “I used to play other sports before, but now my focus is on riding,”
In fact, even after a fall and a fractured hand, he still can’t keep himself from saddling his horse. “The first time I fell it was pretty bad and I was left with a hairline fracture. But that kept me away only for a week because of medical advice. Given a chance I would have been back the next day,” said Balaji who won top honours in the 80cms Show Jumping event at the Equestrian Premier League last month.
With horse riding being an expensive sport, Balaji wants to become an automobile engineer to fund his passion and also train for the Olympics. “Olympics is my ultimate destination and I know I’ll get there. It will be a great feat if I can become the third Indian at the sporting extravaganza,” said Balaji.
He may be small in stature, but this pocket-sized talent has big dreams.