Mad for GOLD

It’s been 6 years since Sahana Kumari set a high jump national record of 1.92m and the record still stands. In 2012, it was not an easy journey for Sahana. She was the last one to qualify for the London Olympics, but she was the only Indian athlete to qualify for the High Jump event. Since then, she has been an inspiration for many, encouraging the youngsters to take up the challenge and dream for the biggest medal, the Olympic Gold.

Sahana was impressed by the progress of Indian athletes at the recently concluded Asian Games and believed that India has the potential to challenge China for the top spot in the next Asian Games. “I think the Indian athletics have improved a lot and the sports environment in the country has developed significantly. They’re very smart and they know which event to select and which event they can excel in. If we continue improving this way, I think India will be No.1 in the next Asian Games.”

There are numerous people behind the success of an athlete, but parents fulfill the most important role in any athlete’s life. Sahana thinks that the parents need to know the success of an individual in athletics solely depends on that individual’s efforts, as there are not many external factors that can adversely affect his or her journey to the top.  “I just want to tell the parents to allow their kids to go into athletics because it is an individual event and if the athlete is good, he/she will get a chance to represent India.”

Training for greater glory for the young athletes is not as easy as it looks. They need to balance it well with their education. Sahana thinks that if not immediately, these youngsters are going to need that education ahead in their lives. “We have to keep the balance. In other few countries, they maintain a certain balance between academics and sports. If there’s only sports and no academic education, it is of no use because at a certain level, they will need it if they want to go for higher posts like officers or collectors and only education will provide them the eligibility.”

Indian athletes are improving, but they’re still not there in the top tier. The process is on-going and to achieve what is required to excel in world championships or Asian Games, there are certain things the athletes need to improve upon. “I think we have to work with their psychology. We must work hard, concentrate on diet and some technical parts, get some quality coaching, get some courses for coaches as well. A PT teacher has to be given some education of higher level and even higher for the Nationals. Then only the standard will rise. Otherwise, we are just PT teachers. The coaches need to develop themselves for the international level. This is something we lack along with the infrastructure and a proper diet.”

Today, athletes are coming up in numbers from grassroot areas of the country. There’s no doubt that India is abundant in raw talent. “We need to encourage those athletes at the grassroot level itself, and not wait for them to win medals and then, show the support. Some athletes do have a privileged background, but for those few, who are talented but lack resources, we need to back them.”

The National record-holder knows what it takes to be at the highest level and she hopes the best for the future of Indian athletics. Her message for the young athletes is nothing short of inspirational, “Just keep working hard and the glory is yours. If you dream for the Olympics, only then your dream will connect you with it. The kids need to dedicate themselves the way spiritual Gurus meditate to achieve God. You need to think of the Olympic Gold all the times, whether you’re going to sleep or waking up. Only then, the athlete will be truly mad for gold.”

Mad for GOLD