From leading a pack of special athletes and helping them cross busy roads to coordinating daily sports drills, N. Sai Krishna is a guide and sports coach despite being intellectually challenged.

The 21-year-old’s efficiency has improved by leaps and bounds, thanks to Jeevika, a special school in Sonari locality of the steel city, where Krishna is enrolled in.

He not only handles the daily chores of his school, but also works at a departmental store in Sonari, a testimony to his mental health.

“We feel very happy with the progress Krishna has made. He understands things and also respects visitors at our school. He handles our school’s daily affairs brilliantly,” said Avtar Singh, the founder of Jeevika.

Be it opening the locks of school or guiding special students to daily sports drills, Krishna does his job well without any complaints whatsoever.

“Krishna’s IQ may not have increased but his efficiency has certainly improved,” Singh, a former international cyclist said.

The special guide, who lives in Sonari with his widowed mother Padmavati, has claimed two medals (silver and bronze) at the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi in 2019 as well as two gold medals at the Special Olympics National Roller Skating Championship held in Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh) in 2014.

He was almost mute when he joined Jeevika, which is active in trying to bring special students to the social mainstream.

Sukhdeep Kaur, secretary of the school said, “There is scope for more improvements in his (Krishna) efficiency in future,” she added.

The special athlete said he enjoys doing his work. “I love coming to the school and guiding the students. I am enjoying my job,” Krishna said.

Singh said they were operating the school on every alternate day in view of the pandemic. “We are concerned with the health of our students, who have already been taught to follow Covid protocols like maintaining social distancing and use of masks.

Krishna and another Jeevika student Ryan Francis won medals at the 19th National Para Athletics Championship held under the aegis of the Paralympic Committee of India in Bangalore held from March 24 to 27.