Maharashtra runner sets sights on CWG 2018

Maharashtra’s 32-year old long-distance runner Kavita Raut is readying herself for the upcoming Commonwealth Games as she aims to upgrade her medal from the 2010 edition. Raut grabbed a bronze medal seven years ago in a 10,000 metres race, getting one in the running category for India after the heroics from Milkha Singh in 1958 Cardiff CWG.

The racer hails from a small tribal village named Swarpada, which is 40 km from Nashik. She was called ‘Swarpada Express’ by the natives of her village when she was competing in the Rio Olympics. Kavita  has a similar story as many other athletes in India who arise from small agrarian families putting in a great deal of hard work to make a name for themselves. She recalls she did not have enough equipment to pursue any other sport. “I come from a poor family. I have two brothers, one younger and one elder to me. We did not have much money so I could not pursue a sport so I chose running because I could do that barefoot as well,” said Kavita, who won her first national medal at the age of 16.

Currently employed with Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), she runs an institute called ‘Eklavya Athletics’ to facilitate young athletes so that they do not face similar problems as her. The facility trains children and funds their education.

For a long time Maharashtra was not on the map of athletics. In recent years, Kavita and others have emerged to motivate other young athletes to pursue sports like distance running. “In long-distance running, there has been a great pool of talent coming up. Maharashtra has seen a great growth apart from other cities,” she said.

Kavita said she is extremely indebted to her family and her village for providing her unflinching support throughout her career, despite not being exposed to the world of athletics. “Parents play a huge role in bringing out kids into sports. Education has become important over the years but now I can safely say that there are career options in sports,” said Kavita.

Being an Olympian herself, she strains on the fact that there is still a long way to go for top-class distance runners to perform on big stages. “I can’t say about 2020 Olympics but I can say that by 2024 we could see medals. The facilities have designed a long-term plan for long-distance running, which will give results.”

“Private companies should also focus on helping nurture the talent. Government will focus either on developed talent who are taking part in Olympics or the one that is coming up, they cannot support both at once,” she further added.