Glory for India, but no laurels for Commonwealth gold medalist Ragala Venkat Rahul's family

GUNTUR: As the State is rejoicing Ragala Venkat Rahul’s win at Commonwealth Games, the weightlifter’s family, who reside in a hut at Stuartpuram village of Guntur district, keenly look forward to provide proper hospitality to those who come to congratulate them.

Rahul’s father, Ragala Madhu, said when his son clinched a Gold medal at the event that he was setting up fifty chairs in front of his hut to accommodate the visitors. However, his excitement was short-lived as not many turned up to congratulate him on his son’s achievement. 

Guntur Collector and secretary of Forum for Better Baptala PC Sai Babu were among those few persons who wished Madhu on Sunday. Stating that Rahul brought international recognition to the village, Sai Babu said that Stuartpuram is a shining example of how it lived down its criminal past. “William Booth Tucker, an officer with the Salvation Army in AP, managed successfully two settlements in Guntur district: one at Sitanagaram (near Vijayawada) and the other at Stuartpuram.”