L. Samyasri is in high spirits. The 17-year-old student from CMS School will soon fly to Turkey to participate in the World School Athletics Championship from July 11 to 18. “I am thrilled to be a part of the Indian team to Turkey and the only thing running in my mind now is to win the gold in the event I love most – the 800m,” she says.
The gutsy, ambitious girl, went through a tough grind during the selection process at the Calicut University Stadium in Tenhipalam, Kozhikode, last month. She returned home convinced she had given her best. Then came the news that she was among the six girls from Tamil Nadu to represent the School Games Federation of India (SGFI) team of athletics for the world championship.
Samyasri is a multi-event athlete who has been winning medals in meets both big and small in the 400m, 800m and 1500m categories. “But 800m is my favourite,” she adds.
Samyasri is confident about her performance in the Championship. “I have a personal best of 2:12.0s in 800m and if I do that I think I should be able to crack the gold with comfort. I checked the timings in the previous edition and found that I can make it.”
However, the young athlete does not want to take things lightly. “I am working hard every day. I do not want to miss or mess with the big opportunity that has come knocking at my door,” she says as she unpacks her bag for a quick warm-up at the Nehru Stadium.
As she strides along the worn-out synthetic surface, her mother, L. Vanitha, looks on from the stands. “Her father Loganathan, a former long jumper trains her,” she says.
“He tried his best to make it big in his heydays but failed to make the grade for want of money. I don’t want my daughter to meet a similar fate. My little one will achieve what he couldn’t in his youth,” adds Vanitha, who works at Government Fishing Depot. “S. Jayachandran, the coach from Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu guides her,” says Vanitha.
Samyasri’s mother is pleased that their efforts have paid off in some way. “We waited for this day. This has brought us so much happiness. Now, we are waiting for the day when she runs in the 2020 Olympics.”
Coach Jayachandran says Samyasri is a natural. “She has got the speed and rhythm. I have worked out various plans for the Worlds. It is just that she must adapt quickly as and when the situation demands.” Samyasri knows that well. And, she is confident that she will certainly fetch the medal at Turkey.
Published - June 18, 2016 02:34 pm IST
