Alappuzha :

The long tradition of oarsmanship inherited from her father Antony Joseph, has made 20-year-old Honey Joseph the glittering mom in the Kerala rowing team. A day after she helped the state to a gold in the 2000-metre coxless fours event at the Vembanad Lake for the National Games, Honey, the mother of two-year-old Ayin, has staked claimed for further acclaim after the hosts moved into the semifinals of the 500m coxless pairs and coxless fours events on Tuesday.

Antony, an oarsman with UBC Kainakari the prestigious boat club which won the Nehru Trophy Boat race several times, is the true inspiration behind Honey.

 For Honey, Vembanad lake is a familiar turf ever since her childhood. “My father had participated in the Nehru Trophy boat race 14 times and the team had lifted the coveted  trophy nine times. That inspired me to join the rowing team at the age of 14,” she said.

A gold medalist in various state and national competitions, Honey had to take a break from her sporting career in 2010 after she entered into wedlock with Vishnu Prasad who runs houseboat business in Alappuzha.

After giving birth of Ayin, she again evinced interest to join the rowing team. In 2014 Incheon Asian Games, she was back with a bang clinching silver in the coxless pair category and three bronze medals for the nation.

The Sports Authority of India Rowing Centre at Punnamada here has helped her to groom again. In the 2,000-metre rowing her team included Nithya Joseph, Chippy Kurian and M T Nimmy won gold in coxless fours category. In coxless pairs category, the team comprising Honey and Nimmy won silver.“The sad part is that though my daughter fetched many gold and silver for the state and nation, she is yet to get a placement in the government service,” Antony said.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Kerala / by Biju E. Paul / February 04th, 2015