JOHOR BARU – Vicnesvaran Varatharajoo was trained in martial arts since he was 11, but never expected that he would one day coach Malaysia’s first athletes to compete at the World Deaf Karate Championships in Tehran.
The 45-year-old’s journey in coaching deaf students began in 2011, when he had an 11-year-old boy as a student at his centre.
“He was young, and I didn’t know if he could cope with the training,” said Vicnesvaran in an interview with The Vibes.
“He turned out to be a stellar athlete who was excellent at sparring, winning championships locally and abroad.”
The karate coach requested that the names of his hearing-impaired students not be published.
“Some of their parents are afraid that taking too big a risk can jeopardise their children’s future.
“They are scared that people will find out their kids are deaf, and that we may be shaming them.”
He said the fear of being stigmatised has a negative impact on his athletes, and expressed concern that while his deaf students are trying to make a name for themselves, the negativity from their parents could hinder their growth.
Some of the parents have asked their kids to stop training and start working. But we are encouraging them to be someone (who is accomplished).
“In the future, they can be a proper martial artist, or a sports teacher at schools for the disabled.”
In 2017, the administrators at SMK Taman Sutera here found out about Vicnesvaran’s deaf athlete who performed smashingly in karate tournaments.
The youngster’s achievements drew the attention of teacher Jothi Subramaniam.
“The school teaches many deaf students, and Jothi was interested in implementing a programme to train them in karate,” said Vicnesvaran.
“She was really determined to help and develop these students.”
Now, Vicnesvaran has nine deaf students among the 70-odd he coaches.
Of the nine, he will send eight, aged 17 to 21, to compete in the Iranian capital on November 18.
Lifting the deaf from ‘world of their own’
Vicnesvaran said coaching deaf students comes with its fair share of obstacles.
They did not receive the best guidance and education from a young age, resulting in them creating “a world of their own”, he said.
“Once they have adapted to the world they have created, bringing them out is difficult. They would at times see you as an enemy.
“Compared with coaching my other students, the deaf students are more forgetful and have a harder time learning.”
Nevertheless, he said, if true effort is made to teach the deaf to adapt to the “real world”, miracles do indeed happen.
“In 2019, we sent deaf students to Malaysia’s National Karate Championship.
“My students competed with average fighters, who had basically trained and developed their skills fighting with athletes with no disabilities.
“In that competition, we got two silver and three bronze medals.”
In need of funds to cover costs
Vicnesvaran has about 50 days left to prepare his athletes for the competition in Tehran.
The World Deaf Karate Championships will see Malaysia’s eight athletes going head-to-head with fighters from over 30 countries.
“We are supported by the Malaysian Deaf Sports Association,” said Vicnesvaran.
“But, we also need funds to buy equipment and cover the travel costs of some of the athletes.”
Vicnesvaran worked as a teacher in Singapore before the Covid-19 pandemic struck. Now without a steady income, he is unable to financially support his team in full.
“I appeal to Malaysians: if they want to change someone else’s life, they can donate to us.
“Even if we get RM1, or even 10 sen, from every Malaysian, these kids’ lives will change forever.” – The Vibes, September 26, 2021
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