WEIGHTLIFTING PARALYMPIAN AND HIS ROOT TO SUCCESS
By: Rachel Yeo
Kalai Vanen might be short of his left leg, but it certaintly did not prove to be a setback.
When he was just 22, doctors told him that he had to amputate his left leg due to a cancerous tumor. This meant that he would not be able to walk without any support. 24 years later, the 56-year-old recently went against his adversities when he represented Singapore in powerlifting at the 2015 ASEAN Paralympic Games, even though he was older than most of his competitors.
In fact, the average retirement age of a sportsperson is 33; Vanen was close to twice of that. However, this did not stop the Paralympian from clinching the nation’s first bronze medal in the Men’s Powerlifting (up to 97kg) event on December 8.
“I’m actually very proud of his performance knowing that he did his best, but the numbers weren’t what we expected because we were aiming higher,” said Muhammad Hidayat, 26, his able-bodied coach.
With his coach’s words, there is hardly any time for a grand celebration about his achievement.
Weights are his strength, literally. Vanen’s record attempt during the ASEAN Para Games was 140kg at his first try.
After a mere one-week break, the brawny powerlifter is already galvanizing back into action, training for the Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro approaching this September.
Despite his flinty exterior, Vanen has an affable personality that helps him to connect well with his peers in the gym. He never fails to ask his gym mates about how their lives have been and about their progress in their gym regimes. Clad in his signature sporty garb of a singlet and shorts, the motivated sportsman wastes no time in the gym and begins his training routines. His training ranges from bench presses to bicep training.
“We are concentrating on developing strength and sharpening techniques, because on that day (the upcoming competitions), it is a matter of not just strength, but performing the strength together with good technique,” said Vanen, giving an insight into his training strategy.
Vanen’s exellence in sports has may have made him an inspirational figure, but he never allows fame to distract his focus to perform even better in future competitions.
The story of how he turned his life around from a struggling victim of disability to becoming a Paralympic medalist has earned rightful reverence from the public. Media attention has increased ten-fold as well, having been interviewed by “every single media outlet in every language”, according to the powerlifter himself. However, Vanen has decided to remain less prominent as he wants to balance his reputation and maintain an ordinary lifestyle rather than being a celebrity sportsman.
“I have to be more careful because people have a public perception for me, I have to maintain it, at least for their sake,” he sighed. “It does get tiring sometimes, especially when it comes to picture-taking and signing autographs.”
This does not mean he is unappreciative of the overwhelming support. In fact, he holds the batch of encouraging letters given by his fans during the games closer to his heart as compared to the prestigious bronze medal he worked so hard for.
Vanen’s achievement in the ASEAN Para Games has bought him a surge of new fans. It is also through the Games where he received fan mail for the first time.
The story of how he turned his life around from a struggling victim of disability to becoming a Paralympic medalist has earned rightful reverence from the public. Media attention has increased ten-fold as well, having been interviewed by “every single media outlet in every language”, according to the powerlifter himself. However, Vanen has decided to remain less prominent as he wants to balance his reputation and maintain an ordinary lifestyle rather than being a celebrity sportsman.
“I have to be more careful because people have a public perception for me, I have to maintain it, at least for their sake,” he sighed. “It does get tiring sometimes, especially when it comes to picture-taking and signing autographs.”
This does not mean he is unappreciative of the overwhelming support. In fact, he holds the batch of encouraging letters given by his fans during the games closer to his heart as compared to the prestigious bronze medal he worked so hard for.
In Vanen’s humble words: "Medals don’t really have a sentimental value to me, I value human relationships more."
With that said, the people he values the most are his two children and wife of three decades, Harjindar Kaur. With their children currently studying abroad, the house is only filled by the husband-and-wife pair in their tranquil HDB flat. More affectionately known as Jin, his wife is one year younger. Their love story began while they were still studying in university as classmates, when Vanen was still able-bodied.
Vanen’s relationship with his wife (right) involves two-way support through the simplest of acts. For example, she helps prepare his meals while he errands for her.
Vanen looks forward to home-cooked dinners made by his wife almost everyday. She is the one who makes sure that he is eating well for his career requirements.
They have since endured numerous adversities, especially when Vanen was fraught with his illness that cost his left leg. Jin even risked ties with her own family who were doubtful about Vanen.
“They [my family] never changed their minds. I got married to him against their wishes, ” she confessed. “But it’s been 27 years [of marriage], no regrets.”
Religion was also another factor why Jin’s family are adamant towards their marriage even today. Jin and her family identify as Sikhs, and Vanen is a devout Hindu.
But Jin’s support holds no boundaries as she assists her husband in every way she can offer, including his religious ones. While her husband was cleansing himself as a devotee prior to Thaipusam, a Hindu festival, Jin would prepare vegetarian meals like tofu and vegetable curry as part of his cleansing requirements.
A collage of family portraits in Vanen’s home, giving an insight to the people he treasures the most.
This year’s Thaipusam festival also reminded Vanen to stay rooted to his beliefs. There was no shadow of doubt kept him from going through the procession as his religion has taught him to be thankful with what he has at the present.
“You must not let anything get in your way if you need to do something,” Vanen asserted on his decision to carry out the procession.
Vanen’s positive mindset and support from his family and religion are the things that keep him morally grounded. This, in turn, is why the media and public are further inspired by his trials and tribulations.
“They look up to me because I represent something in them, whether it’s being disabled but doing something that they cannot do, or they see a fighting spirit in me,” said Vanen optimistically.
“If I’m able to bring out in them a certain feeling about my personality that impacts them in a positive way, then I’m happy for them.”
During and after the Vanen's procession from Sri Srinivasa Perumial Temple to Sri Mariamman temple.