Andhra Pradesh ke ek small village mei paida huye, Shamsher Khan, Indian swimming ke lengend the. India ko Olympics mei represent karne wale wo first swimmer the phir bhi unko apni most of life poverty mei guzarni padi. Dukh ki baat toh ye hai ki unki tremendous achievements ke baad bhi unhe jo recognition milni chhaiye thi wo nhi mili- na hi fans se aur na hi country se.
1946 mei ek teenager ki tarah Khan ko Indian Army mei recruit kiya gaya tha aur unhe Bangalore Madras Engineers Group mei induct kiya gaya tha. Unhone iske pahle bhi village ke pond mei apne papa ke saath swimming sikhi thi, but unke is extraordinary talent ko Indian Army mei hi notice kiya gaya tha. Khan ne formal swimming training Army mei hi received ki aur 1949 mei Mysore mei huye competition mei logo se khud ko notice bhi karwaya.
1954 se 1956 ke beech ka period Khan ke liye golden time ki tarah tha. Pahle unhone 1954 mei huye 200m buttefly mei National record set kiya. Unhone following year mei comeback kiya aur Bangalore mei hui swimming meet ke time saare records swept kar diya. Unki isi performance se unhone 1956 mei huye Melbourne Olympics mei apne liye jagah banai.
Government ki ignorance hi kah sakte hai ise ki Khan ko sirf travelling cost provide ki gai aur unke khud ke food aur other cost ke liye un par hi chhod diya gaya. Khan jo ki us time per month 56 rs. earn karte the unhe Army se 300 rs. ka loan lena pada taaki wo apni cost meet kar sake. Ye amount baad mei unki salary se deduct kar liya gaya, jiska matlab hai ki swimmer ko apni country ko Olympics mei represent karne ke liye khud ke pocket se pay karna pada.
Iski wajah se unki performance mei ek inch ki kami bhi nhi aai. 200m butterfly mei 5th aur 200m breaststroke event mei 6th position par finish kiya. Aur ye kisi Indian swimmer ka Olympics mei ab tak ka best show hai.
Khan severe financial issues ki wajah se agle Olympics mei travel nhi kar paaye aur Country ko bhi represent nhi kar sake. Khan ne India ki taraf se 1962 mei China ke saath aur 1973 mei Pakistan ke saath War bhi ladi hai. 1973 mei wo Army se retire ho gaye aur apne village mei settle ho gaye.
Agar India ko global sporting force ki tarah emerge karna hai toh, is disparity ko end karna hi hoga government ko.
