Visually impaired judo champ caught in a ‘power’ struggle

Lucknow: Kamal Sharma (29), a visually impaired para-judo athlete and former national awardee who clinched the 2013 world championship, is used to overcoming obstacles—both on the mat and in life. But his latest battle has left him grappling with an opponent he never expected: Madhyanchal Vidyut Vitaran Nigam Ltd (MVVNL), the state power discom.
Despite winning medals for India, Kamal now finds himself defeated by red tapism delays as he runs from pillar to post for an electricity connection in Lucknow.
Posted as a bank clerk in Alambagh, Kamal recently started construction of his dream home in Kakori's Sarosa Bharosa area.
He applied for a power connection in Feb, paid for infrastructure like pillars and cables in March, and yet his home remains in the dark despite endless assurances.
"On Feb 5, I applied for temporary connection and began construction of the home four days later. Initially I was given an estimate of Rs 70,000 as there was no power infrastructure but make-shift arrangements powering the neighbouring homes. Later, the estimate was revised, and I paid Rs 25,000 on March 11. Since then, I only have been receiving assurance from JE, SDO and EE, that soon my house will get power connection, but till date, I'm using diesel generator taken on rent for Rs 300 per day to power the requirement for house construction," said Kamal who lives in nearby rented accommodation with his wife.
He added: "There is only a requirement for 50-55m long cable from the nearest pillar to power my house. However, SDO informed me that currently there is a shortage of single- phase cable."
MVVNL superintendent engineer DK Saxena of Amausi zone told TOI: "We are probing why power connection has not been provided to Kamal Sharma yet. Since he has paid the amount for power infrastructure, he will certainly get the connection."
Hailing from Pilibhit, Kamal won the gold at the world judo championship for visually-impaired persons in Hungary in 2013. He captained the visually impaired UP cricket team in 2018-19, won the national chess championship in 2017 in Lucknow, and received the national best sportsperson award in para athlete category in 2020.