Wrestler in New Zealand wants to be first blind competitor in Commonweath Games

From the Western Leader in New Zealand:

Champion wrestler Clinton Hall, 26, (pictured holding his training partner) is hoping to make history by becoming the first blind person to qualify for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India.

The Club Physical gym in Te Atatu is stepping up to help raise the funds and will host a garage sale and auction on Saturday to get the ball rolling. It is hoped a figure of $10,000 will be reached so Clinton can take the first step on his path to Commonwealth glory.

"If we can get him at least to the first stage then he’s got a chance and we can do some more later to get him to the next step," organiser Brenton Rice, a wellness consultant at Club Physical, says.

"Making sure he gets to the Oceania champs in Samoa is critical because it’s essentially the start of his road to qualifying."

Rice says the Avondale resident deserves a shot at international success after battling the odds since taking up wrestling at 18.

"He doesn’t consider his blindness a handicap whatsoever and has a great attitude about it. He doesn’t think what he’s doing is anything special. It’s a real call to help a young man who is very capable in this arena but of course is not able to do some other things."

Clinton’s opponents, who are all fully sighted, can vouch for the fact that he doesn’t let his blindness slow him down. He has picked up a series of high placings in recent months such as fourth in his weight division at last year’s Oceanias and title wins at both the North Island champs and in the Greco-Roman category of the national tournament.

"I also came second in freestyle but it was a really close final," he says. "If I have my way I’ll be number one for freestyle soon as well."

To be in the running for the 2010 Commonwealths he has to perform well at the upcoming Oceanias, the Australian nationals in March and the Commonwealth Cup at the end of the year in India.

"There are some big hurdles to make it but that’s not going to stop me. No matter what I do I always want to be the best. When I first started I told everyone I’d be the national champion one day and they just laughed at me but that ended up happening," he says.