Ahmedabad: Two months ago, middle-distance runner Roger Rathod packed his bags for Jhunjhunu in northern Rajasthan with little inkling of the future that awaited him. Financial constraints at home had confined his training to the Sardar Patel Stadium in Navrangpura and the Riverfront stretch in Ahmedabad.
Father's Determination and Support
Roger's father, Rajesh Rathod, an ex-athlete who drove an auto-rickshaw to make ends meet, contacted Amit Bhattacharya, a mentor at the Ahmedabad Distance Runners (ADR), a registered group for middle- and long-distance runners. During the coronavirus pandemic, Bhattacharya's team had helped the Rathod family with groceries and other supplies. This assistance proved to be a blessing in disguise when Rajesh approached Bhattacharya for formal training for his son.
Donors and Training in Rajasthan
Two donors contributed, and Roger was sent to the Shri Shyam Sports Club hostel in Jhunjhunu under coach Surender Khiladi's guidance. The results speak for themselves. At the recently concluded Gujarat State Senior Athletics Meet in Nadiad, Roger secured a silver medal in the 1,500m event, crossing the finish line in 4:26. Niraj Yadav won gold in 4:21, while Lalit Kumar took bronze in 4:32.
Coach's Praise
Coach Surender Khiladi told TOI, "Roger's discipline and willpower helped him achieve this result. When Amitji sent him to me, Roger had good timing. His dedication enabled him to achieve this result quickly. We need to work even harder for better results at the nationals."
Athlete's Aspirations
The 20-year-old Roger expressed happiness over his silver medal but aims higher. "I'm happy to win the silver medal. But my goal is to qualify for the Asian Games, either by winning a medal at the Nationals or by achieving the required timing at the qualification trial," he said.
Mentor's Perspective
Amit Bhattacharya explained that they decided to help Roger when his father approached him for training assistance. "We decided to send him to Surender in Rajasthan. Once the coach confirmed his talent and that results could be achieved within two months, I and my friends decided to continue his training there," Bhattacharya stated.
