Belgaum’s teen swimming sensation has over 1,000 fractures!

Belgaum: “Never, never, never, never give up,” goes the famous saying of Winston Churchill, former British Primer Minister known for his inspiring leadership during the Second World War.

There are very few people who personify this never say die spirit. What about a 13-year-old physically challenged boy from Belgaum?

Only a few would bet that Moin Junaidi, who has suffered not less than 1,000 fractures all over his body, can aspire to take part in the World Swimming Championship.

Moin, son of Musthaq Junaidi and Kousar Banu, has a rare disease that causes zero-bone calcium. Called Osteogenesis Imperfecta in medical terms, the disease has made Moin’s bones so soft that the gentlest pat would cause fractures.

The boy can neither stand on his feet nor catch anything in his hands. His parents hail from Kudachi in Belgaum’s Raybag taluk but are settled in this border City’s Mujawar Galli locality.

2 years: 50 fractures

They say Moin suffered his first fracture when he was just nine months old. By the age of two, he had more than 50 fractures.

When doctors were called in, not only they couldn’t diagnose what he suffered from, but their treatment also worsened his condition. No orthopeadician in Belgaum, Miraj, Mumbai, or even the U.S.A. could detect this rare disease.

Moin’s parents stopped consulting doctors after spending lakhs and were told that there was no cure for the disease.

They, however, didn’t lose hope. With doctors advising them to handle Moin with utmost care and no school willing to admit him, Banu began tutoring him at home. While Moin cannot write holding a pen in his hand, he can still read.

One day, Fairoz Sait, Belgaum North MLA, happened to meet Moin at a function. Impressed by his aptitude, Sait immediately gifted him a laptop. Now, Moin can now use the laptop with his tenderest fingers.

The other day, Moin’s parents had a chance meeting with Umesh Kalghatgi, a swimming coach, at the Belgaum City Corporation pool.

Instantly recognising Moin’s potential to become a swimmer, Umesh offered to train him. Initially reluctant, his parents later accepted his proposal.

The little swimming genius

The result is spell-binding: Moin can swim for more than an hour. But whenever his legs become immovable while swimming, he pushes the water back with his hands like a tortoise.

Till date, the wonderful boy has taken part in a number of swimming competitions. In October 2008, he participated in the National Paralympics Swimming Competition in Kolkata and bagged the gold medal in the 50 metre freestyle event.

No sooner than he won the gold that awards and felicitations began pouring in. Indradhanush Samman, Belgaum District Award, B R Motage Award, Sagar Prashasti (carrying a cash prize of Rs one lakh), etc are but a handful of awards he has been honored with. Moin was also felicitated at the Shabhash India reality show aired on Zee

TV.

An avid cricket fan, Moin adores Mahendra Singh Dhoni. He also likes Shah Rukh Khan. Moin wants to showcase his talent at the World Swimming Championships. But the road isn’t easy.

Will Karnataka’s Muslim leaders lend a helping hand and help this wonder kid realise his dream? Let’s hope they do.

source: http://www.karnatakamuslims.com / Belgaum / Jan 18th, 2011