Anju neighbour works on his modest dream

Currently training under Romanian Nicholas Nulpe at the Water Sports Academy in Secundrabad, Paulose — who qualified by finishing among the top six single scullers at the 2003 Asian Championship, in Shanghai — knows he has a tough task even to accomplish his modest aim. ‘‘I will try my level best but I know the competition will be tough even for that.’’

Perhaps Paulose has already realised his dream, just by making it to Athens. Because, ever since he joined the Madras Engineering Group, Bangalore as a trainee in 1996, he was always shortlisted for sports that needed the height advantage.

At 6’2’’, Paulose was always the choice for volleyball, basketball and handball, until a senior suggested that he try out the oars. After moving to the Army Rowing Node, CME, Pune in 2000 it was rowing full time. ‘‘You have to depend on others in team events even if you are good. I love challenges. Success and failure as individuals means only oneself to blame’’, he adds.

Sport for Paulose had always been second priority. The only son in a family of six, getting a job was top priority. With a rubber plantation field as the only source of income, it meant helping Paulose Sr in the fields.

‘‘Joining the armed forces seemed destined for me’’, he says, and as far as his family’s sports background goes, ‘‘no one ever thought of it’’. Paulose does not repent moving away from the family business as sport has earned him the recognition. ‘‘Getting a ticket to the Olympics brought smiles to the faces of all my family members. It was a big thing for my father, who walked with head held high.”

With a silver in the coxed eight event at the Asian Championship and a bronze in the coxed four at the Busan Asiad, Paulose still remembers his first medal — a gold (in single sculls at the 2000 Punjab Nationals).

Having already put in seven hours daily since May this year, Paulose feels ‘‘it’s a good workout. Something that I have never been put through.’’

For now, Paulose is ‘‘dreaming’’ to prove India’s improvement and are no longer wooden-spooners.