Mumbai: Shourya Ambure took a little bit of a danger to have a shot at competing within the ongoing Asian U-18 Athletics Championships. For starters, the hurdler gave two Class 10 papers a miss to show up finally month’s Nationwide Youth Championships in Patna, which doubled up as a variety meet for the Asian occasion. Plus, the 100m hurdles occasion was nonetheless a bit alien for the 15-year-old heading to Saudi Arabia for her first worldwide competitors.
Shourya Ambure (proper) (AA)
“She is transitioning from U-16s to U-18s, going from 80m to 100m hurdles,” mentioned her coach Ajit Kulkarni. “To get into the rhythm for 100m, you need to train well and compete on a regular basis. She ran just two races before going for this competition.”
And but, Shourya will return with a bronze medal from the Asian age-group meet, clocking a private greatest timing of 13.80s to complete behind China’s Bao Yinyin (13.71) and He Yihui (13.76).
“It feels surreal. This was my first international meet, and to come back with a PB and a medal is such a proud moment,” Shourya mentioned from Dammam.
In Patna final month in her first 100m hurdles look, she had clocked 14.55s. Within the intervening 4 weeks, the teenager not solely educated for the Asian Championships but additionally caught up together with her Board exams.
“We trained for a timing between 13.70-13.85, which is a massive improvement,” Kulkarni mentioned.
That enchancment is much more creditable given the challenges the teenager has to face to merely have the ability to prepare. Shourya is from Thane, a bustling district outdoors Mumbai that flaunts fancy excessive rises however is bereft of a correct artificial athletics monitor. The Dadoji Konddev Stadium, which did have a monitor, now largely hosts cricket matches. Kulkarni runs his academy in a Thane membership however the 30m stretch for hurdles is useful sufficient just for some makeshift days.
And so, with no place to go within the neighborhood, Shourya and Kulkarni typically commute virtually 50km to Bandra in suburban Mumbai, or to Ghatkopar, and even 150km to the Balewadi Stadium in Pune, for each day coaching classes.
“It’s definitely tough, and takes a lot of discipline and time management,” Shourya mentioned. “The daily commute eats up a lot of time and energy, but when you have a dream, you make it work. Whether it’s travelling to Bandra or even Pune, I always remind myself of why I’m doing this.”
Athletics grew to become a part of her life since childhood. As a little bit lady who was into music, dancing and skating, she was “happiest just running around”. Shourya was enrolled within the academy of Kulkarni, who has coached a number of athletes from the state, and shortly acquired drawn to hurdles. “It felt like more than running; it was rhythm, technique, challenging and I loved it,” she mentioned.
“She’s been with me for nine years,” Kulkarni mentioned. “She showed good talent from that young age. The way she ran, the approach, the frequency, hand action, etc… all that was natural in her.”
So was an perspective to work exhausting and the spirit to battle. Kulkarni recollects Shourya’s first hurdles race in a U-14 meet, the place she tripped, got here final and bruised her knee. The following day she was additionally supposed to participate in a 100m race. “She ran and came second,” he mentioned.
A lot of that dedication and self-discipline comes from each of Shourya’s mother and father being within the police pressure (her father is DCP, Crime and mom is SP, Freeway Site visitors Thane).
“Watching them work so hard every day has taught me what dedication truly means. Despite their demanding jobs, they’ve always made time for me — be it waking up early for training or travelling for competitions,” mentioned Shourya.
Final 12 months, Shourya was competing (and profitable) in inter-school meets within the metropolis. Now, she is a U-18 Asian medallist. “Winning this medal definitely gives me a big confidence boost. It’s a reassurance that I’m on the right path,” she mentioned.
Kulkarni concurs, with a little bit caveat that this should be handled as only a begin. “I told her you haven’t broken the (U-18) national or Asian record. You have two years to do that,” he mentioned. “The promise is definitely there.”
Impressed by American 400m hurdles world file holder Sydney McLaughlin, the 15-year-old too has lofty goals. “This season, I want to keep improving my times. In the long term, my dream is to represent India at the Olympics and win a medal,” Shourya mentioned.