Babubhai Panocha, the 31-year-old walking champion from Sabarkantha who has strode to victory in many international arenas, is a resilient sportsperson.
For a sportsperson, it is never easy to overcome a disappointment as debilitating as the one caused by the denial of the opportunity to perform at the Olympics.
However, Babubhai Panocha, the 31-year-old walking champion from Sabarkantha who has strode to victory in many international arenas, is a particularly resilient sportsperson.
Panocha missed the Beijing Olympics bus because of a misunderstanding with his Russian coach. But Panocha has walked back into the reckoning and trampled India’s 20 km walk record for the third time.
“I had a disappointing 2008. But that is in the past now,” said Panocha, after his arrival from Poland on Tuesday morning. “I have worked hard on my fitness.”
His efforts have yielded dramatic results: Panocha broke his own record in the 20 km walk, for the second time. In fact, his performance at the Polish National Championship broke the Indian record for the third time. He finished in 1 hour 24 minutes and 5 seconds, easily within the qualification time (1:24:20) for the World Championship scheduled in Germany later this month.
Now Panocha’s immediate goal is to win at the IAAF World Championships in Berlin, which starts on August 15. “I want to give India a gift [a medal] on the occasion of the Independence Day,” said Panocha, who is yet secure a sponsor. Indeed, success has not come easily to Panocha. At present, he is training in Patiala, more than 1000 km from his hometown.
“I visit my family every two or three months,” he said. “They are the pillars of my success. Not once did my wife Manjula say ‘quit the sport’. She has handled family and my ambition very admirably,” said Panocha.
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