Khalid Oshman after completing the marathon
Can you believe that a blind man is actively involved in five sports events and is holding a very responsible position as an occupation?
Yes, factually Khalid Oshman was prominently spotted during the Colombo Half Marathon as a participant last Sunday.
He displayed his talent when he completed the Half Marathon with a guide and that caught the attention of the people at the finishing line.
He disclosed that he does swimming, cycling, boxing, cricket team and even competed in iron man events.
This is an amazing feat that even a person whose eye sight is normal will think twice before getting into those shoes.
Khalid said that he had participated in four Iron Man events in Sri Lanka.
Looking at his physique he has well built shoulders and chest expanded that bears proof of a keen and dedicated sportsman.
He has also been in the national visually handicapped cricket team in 2017 and 2022 and has participated in the T/20 tournaments and in the World Cup.
He does swimming and cycling with a guide to help him go along the correct course during practices and competitions.
In boxing he has participated in the event conducted by the Indian Association and has won a gold medal in his event and is certainly a fit person.
Oshman has also done marathon walks across Sri Lanka. He has walked from the North to the South, a distance of 668 kilometres that took 27 days.
He has also walked from Batticaloa to Colombo across the island covering a distance of 330 kilometres in 17 in an amazing test of patience and fitness.
Oshman revealed to the Sunday Observer that he was born in Kuwait and is still hoping to meet his biological parents as he is presently looked after by his foster parents.
His eyesight was normal until 2012 when he was given an injection for an eye disease. Unfortunately the injection was the start of Oshman losing his sight. He is now 39 years old and remembers that it was a cousin who helped him go around and continue with the sporting activities.
He is hoping to continue with his sporting activities and is banking on a sponsor who could help him to proceed to Bhutan to participate in a boxing championship that will take place shortly.
Any sponsor who is willing to support Oshman can reach him on 0778 051951.
He attended Alexander College in Colombo and is now doing a degree while being an employee of SriLankan Airlines and had his education at the College of Aviation. He is also a customer Service officer and handling passenger services.
These occupational positions that he holds will certainly make a normal person envy him. It can also encourage a normal person to pursue and excel in whatever field that he chooses to be.
