When Tamil Nadu’s V. Revathi struck a golden double in the junior National athletics here, many were surprised as she was just a newcomer to the track. But the young girl from Madurai has preferred to stay away from all the media glare here on Monday.
She did that because there were other thoughts running through her mind — her parents. She lost them both to tuberculosis and brain fever as a four-year-old. She missed them both badly and it was quite evident as she tried holding back her tears when asked about their absence on track.
After her parents’ demise, her grandmother took the talented girl under her wings and encouraged her all the way to the track. Revathi, who studied in a government school, showed great interest from there and started to sprint nicely and confidently.
SDAT coach
Life turned rosy for this second year BBA Tamil student of Lady Doak College when the SDAT coach K. Kannan chose her for training. “I picked her in one of the zonal meets. She was blessed with great speed and I changed only a few techniques,” said Kannan.
Kannan, who was guided by the late Ramanathan, a former international who has groomed the likes of champion athletes Charles Borromeo, Gnanasekaran and A. Rajan, pointed out that Revathi loved to run barefoot. “It took a few months for me to convince her to wear the shoes. She would quitely remove the shoes and carry it with her hands during event.”
Kannan pointed out that the next two years will see the best from this girl. “I am working on her stride length and speed frequency. I have told her that if she wants to dedicate something nice to her parents, she has to excel in sports. I am sure she will do that.”
