New Delhi: Asian Games gold medallist Swapna Barman will have customised shoes for her 12-toed feet soon as the Sports Authority of India (SAI) has tied up with footwear company Adidas to ensure specially-designed gear for the heptathlete.
“After coming to know about Swapna’s case, Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore 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 this agency, Friday.
Born with six toes in both her feet, Swapna’s plight came to light only after she became the first Indian athlete to win an Asiad gold in heptathlon with a career-best performance in the recently-concluded Jakarta Games.
After her victory, the athlete made an emotional appeal for customised shoes and the SAI immediately sprung into action.
“I got a communication from SAI 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,” Swapna’s coach Subash Sarkar said from Kolkata.