For his father, Chithravel, an agricultural daily wage worker, the medal epitomized years of sacrifice and unwavering belief in his son’s aspirations.
“I am a daily wage worker in agriculture. We focused on educating our children and supporting their dreams with the earnings I made through this work,” Chithravel shared with PTI Videos.
The father reminisced about how Praveen’s athletic journey began with simple bicycle rides to training and events.
“Wherever I went, I carried him on my bicycle. I introduced him to the world gradually, and with each step, he improved and advanced to compete internationally,” he reflected.
Praveen secured the silver medal on Saturday with a remarkable jump of 16.58 meters, narrowly missing gold while competing in cold conditions. Despite hoping to see him on the podium, the family experienced only pride at home.
“He missed it by a slight margin, but that’s alright. Next time, my son will undoubtedly win the gold medal and bring even more pride to India and Tamil Nadu,” Chithravel expressed.
The family’s journey has been defined by hard work and mutual support. Praveen’s sister is a teacher, and both of his brothers have also pursued athletics, with the entire village actively encouraging the Commonwealth Games medallist.
“The youth in this village supported him as if he were their own child. Teachers, relatives, and the entire community guided us in ways I could not have imagined, helping my son reach the next level,” Chithravel noted.
He also acknowledged the backing provided by officials throughout Praveen’s athletic progress.
“I am profoundly grateful to both the State and Central governments for their unwavering assistance and support,” he remarked.
Family members and villagers congregated around the television to witness Praveen’s latest international achievement, marking another milestone in a career that already boasts an Asian Games bronze medal.
Even after celebrating his son’s Commonwealth Games silver medal, Chithravel’s thoughts turned to the future.
“I pray my son wins the gold medal next time. More significantly, I hope his success instills great pride in this village and inspires at least ten more youngsters from here to pursue sports and excel,” he concluded.
