Anyone can earn medal if they try well, says star athlete Joby Matthew

Athlete Joby Matthew, who was the largest exponent of medals for India at the recently concluded World Dwarf Games, returned to Kochi on Friday.

The 21-member Indian contingent delivered a stellar performance at the 7th edition of the games in Canada and bagged a total of 37 medals, including 15 golds, 10 silver, and 12 bronze medals.

Matthew led the medals tally as he bagged six medals, which included two golds, three silvers and a bronze.

"Anyone can earn medal if they try well. I hope the people like us should be well encouraged and helped by the authorities and government," said the Kerala-born athlete upon his arrival at the Cochin International Airport.

"It is not for my personal achievements but for those emerging athletes and I hope the government will do the needful," said the 41-year-old, who is physically challenged from birth with 60 percent disabilities.

Besides Matthew, CV Rajanna from Bengaluru was another Indian athlete who won three gold medals.

The event was held over a week at the University of Guelph in the Ontario province of Canada, featuring as many as 400 athletes from across 24 different countries.