Chanda chases a clear 800m goal
NEW DELHI: Her replies are short, but Kumari Chanda’s reticence is no timidity. “When I stand on my mark, I don’t think of the medal or timing. I just want to beat the girl in front of me,” says the 20-year-old, who won 800m and finished third in the 1500m at last month’s Federation Cup in Kozhikode. She clocked 2:02:11 in 800m to qualify for this year’s Asian Games.
Chanda’s athletics world is far removed from Sonpur village in Uttar Pradesh, about 650 km from the national capital. There, in a thatched mud house with no toilet or water supply, her father Satyanarayan Prajapati fights what appears a losing battle against tuberculosis.
The disease is a norm in a village that has witnessed heavy sandstone mining for three decades. The thick dust rising from the quarries means villagers suffer from respiratory disorders. That the 45-year-old Prajapati was a heavy smoker didn’t help.
“We don’t have anything back home. My mother Heeramani Devi grows some vegetables in our small patch of land and sells cow dung for survival. Our village received electricity supply less than a year back. We still rely on a well for potable water. Educating four kids was never eas*y,” Chanda, eldest
of the four siblings—three sisters and a brother—says.
Chanda was drawn to track at school, quickly gaining reputation for her speed.
“I just ran. I had no clue which event suited me. I participated in everything, from sprints to middle distance. Running was the only time I could stop thinking about the troubles at home,” she says.
In 2018, she made it to UP team for the school nationals. The Games at Nadiad, Gujarat, were her first real competition.
Chanda won the 800m bronze. “I had no idea of technique and strategy,” she recalls.
Watching her awkward running style was Delhi coach Kulbir Singh.
“Chanda stood out for her natural strength. She didn’t have rhythm or technique, but watching her run in her substandard kit and shoes, I thought she could go far with proper guidance,” recalls the 55-year-old.
The coach sent his ward Neha to convince Chanda, to shift to Delhi and stay with Neha’s family.
“She had absolutely no idea about competitive running. We started from scratch—fixing her position at the start, arm movements, rhythm, acceleration, endurance training, so on,” says the coach.
Soon, she made it to the squad for the 2019 South Asian Games in Nepal. Silver in 1,500m at the SAG was followed by a treble (800m, 1500m, 3000m) at the 2019 national schools meet only for the pandemic to throw training and competition off gear.
Last year, she won the 800m and 1500m in many meets. The only athlete who beat her is 1,500m national record holder, Harmilan Bains. “I am sure I can beat her. There are no mental blocks,” she says.
Chanda was also told of the current national record in 800m (1:59: 17), held by Tintu Luka since 2010. The name and the timing has stuck.
“I have never met Tintu, but you can say I idolise her. I want to breach her mark and be the best in the country. Hopefully, that will help me pull my family out of poverty too,” she says.
“I am certain Chanda will do 1:59 soon. I expect her to return to the national camp post-may, after her Class 12 exams. I won’t be surprised if she produces a sub-2 minute run at the Interstate Athletics in June,” says Kulbir.