New Delhi: Asian Games gold-medalist Swapna Barman will get customised shoes for her 12-toed feet soon. The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has tied up with footwear company, Adidas to give specially-designed gear for the heptathlete.
“After coming to know about Swapna’s case, the Sports Minister immediately directed us from Jakarta to get customised shoes made for her. We have taken up the matter with Adidas and they have agreed to provide the footwear,” SAI Director General Neelam Kapur told PTI.
After winning the gold medal at Asian Games in Jakarta this year, Swapna revealed that the shoes that she used for the track events in Heptathlon were uncomfortable as she has 12-toed feet, unlike the usual 10-toed ones.
After her victory, the athlete made an emotional appeal for customised shoes and the SAI immediately sprung into action after Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore directed the authorities concerned to take up the matter on an urgent basis.
The SAI has already asked Swapna’s coach Subash Sarkar for her size, pressure points and drawings for the customised spikes.
“Yes, I got a communication from SAI, Delhi, asking for specification to prepare Swapna’s customised shoes. I am yet to meet Swapna as she is injured but I will provide the details once I meet her,” Sarkar said from Kolkata.
“Once I informally told a SAI official about the shoe issue but I never took up the matter seriously. Actually I didn’t want her to alter things just before the Asian Games as she got adjusted to the regular shoes and was doing fine. Trying a new shoe just before the Games could have been adverse,” he said.
“And she hadn’t gained fame at that time. Now after winning the gold, she has become a celebrity and every company is trying to get mileage out of her,” Sarkar added.
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