Date:12/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/12/stories/2009011257780200.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Wonder boy on wheels

Shilpa Sebastian R.

Seven-year-old Abhishek S. Navale has skated from Bangalore to Belgaum

He practises for two-and-a-half hours every day
His parents are now trying to find sponsors

Awesome: Abhishek performing a stunt.

Bangalore: Abhishek S. Navale is a seven-year-old studying in A.V.H. English Medium School, Belgaum. Ask him the full name of his school, and he shies away and hides behind the pallu of his mother’s sari.

But the reticent boy has performed a rare feat; he has skated 540 km from Bangalore to Belgaum.

His parents are now busy trying to find sponsors so that he can study and continue to train in skating. “In fact we have just submitted an application to the Chief Minister,” says Sanjay Navale, his father who works as a bus conductor with the North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation.

Abhishek is so shy that his parents do all the talking. But ask him to show you what he can do with the skates, and you see a complete transformation in his personality. He skates with confidence and pulls off some amazing tricks too. “He can skate with his body almost touching the ground,” says his proud father, as Abhishek demonstrates. “I am not scared of the traffic,” says the boy, as he waits for a bus to pass and then shows off another stunt.

“He’s been practising for the last two years. His trip from Bangalore to Belgaum was sponsored by KSRTC. He practises for two-and-a-half hours every day under his coach Suryakant Hindalgekar,” says Mr. Navale.

Dream

It is his parents’ dream to see Abhishek participate in the Olympics or Asian Games and bring honour to the country.

“We also want him to complete his education. He is passionate about skating. He spends most of his time imitating the stunts Hrithik Roshan performs in films,” says Mr. Navale.