Shathi's salary reportedly offers barely enough to support her family
A
disabled athlete raised in a Bangladeshi slum has apparently become a
household name after starring in a mobile phone company's ad campaign.
Autistic Shiuli Shathi, 27, even made news as afield as
China, where feature writers marvelled at the rise of someone who could
not walk until she was 15. According to Xinhua news agency,
she was taunted by neighbours in Dhaka until taking up badminton and
bocce - a sport similar to bowls - and winning a string of Special
Olympics medals. The Promoting Child Rights blog,
published by Bangladesh's Daily Star, quotes Shathi as saying she was
introduced to sport aged 10 by teachers wanting to keep her in school.
Her coach reportedly told Xinhua: "With her indomitable willpower and
sheer courage, she was able to excel."It seems Grameenphone - Bangladesh's largest mobile network - highlighted her achievements to inspire other youngsters to overcome barriers. According to the World Bank, one in 10 people in Bangladesh are disabled. Often they're "among the poorest of the poor", with the most vulnerable being women and children. Shathi apparently works as a teaching assistant but her £15 monthly income barely supports her family.
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