Tamil Nadu   

From dusty roads to synthetic tracks

Karthik Madhavan

PALLIPALAYAM: A few years ago, N. C. Mohanal of Nichampalayam, a village north of Erode, ran every day to board the school bus. Today, she still runs, but far away from her village's dusty roads, on synthetic tracks, representing the country in international events.

"The memories I have of running are of sprinting to board the bus. My schoolmates and I ran fast, adjusting the heavy bag on the shoulder," recalls the 19-year-old, who recently represented India at the 12th Asian Junior Athletics Championships in Macau, China. She finished sixth.

Her regular bus chase reflected itself in school events. "At the school-level competitions, I stood first on many occasions," she recalls.

The fame and glory that matched her speed led her to Erode for training at the Sports Hostel.

It was a slow start for Ms. Mohanal.

"In the initial days, she was like any other trainee-student, but had apprehensions that affected her performance," recalls her coach T. V. Patrick. Those days she ran barefoot because her parents could not afford a spike shoe. Months later, her father gifted a pair of shoes worth Rs. 300.

She was a regular at almost every event. She kept running and prizes came by.

The "turning point," as Mr. Patrick calls it, came during the South Zone Junior Athletic Championship in 2004-05, when she emerged from behind to clock 2.17 minutes in 800 m and touch the ribbon. Her best is 2.13.

"There was a perceptible change in her approach. In previous events, she was timid and fearful, but in the Chennai event she was at her best. There was a total transformation," says the coach. This catapulted her to the national camp and subsequently to Macau.

At present, she holds 17 certificates and 15 medals in various national events.

Today, she is aiming at other big events, but still runs with a not-so-good shoe. In fact, all her medals and certificates are tucked inside an old, yellow cloth bag.

Ms. Mohanal says she wants better facilities, money to buy shoes and training in a better environment.

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