By Paritosh Pramanik
July 30, 2022
IT WAS a dream debut. Even though the result was not of her or for the country's liking, Nagpur athlete Sanjana Sunil Joshi who made her as well as India’s maiden entry at Birmingham Commonwealth Games in Triathlon did the nation proud by completing the Women's Individual (Sprint Distance) Final on Friday. Sanjana, all of 16, became the first girl from Nagpur to participate in CWG in a Triathlon event.
Sanjana was selected for the Sprint Distance Triathlon, a multi-sport event in which the athlete has to swim 750 metres, then cycle 20 kms and then run for five kms without any break.
Pragnya Mohan from Ahmedabad was the other female team member in the four-member Indian team.
In the final, Sanjana, who is trained by Dr Amit Samarth, ultra cyclist at Miles and Milers Endurance Sports Academy, and is a student of Somalwar Nikalas School, finished 28th in the competition. Though it was her maiden event, Sanjana finished the race with a time of 1:09:00. Her swim time was 11:16 while her T1 (Transition1) was 0:52. She completed her bike (cycling) event in 33:21 and then bettered her T2 timing with 0:27. She completed her event with a run in 23:04.
Sanjana’s coach at Miles N Milers Dr Amit Samarth termed her participation as a very proud moment for the citizens. “It is a very proud moment for all of us at Miles N Milers and in Nagpur. She is just 16 and was competing with Olympic champions... we are really proud of her,” said Dr Samarth.
“This experience (of CWG) will help her in future,” said Dr Samarth.
“From the very first day itself, Sanjana and her sister Snehal showed utmost sincerity towards training,” Dr Samrath recalled.
“From a swimming background, Sanjana started her journey in the world of cycling and running and then later into triathlon. All the hard work which she had put in the lockdown is making the difference today,” said Samarth in praise of Sanjana.
Narrating the hard work Sanjana put up during practice, Samarth said, “Getting up at 3 am for running and finishing the training by 5.15 am before the world wakes up is no joke. Also swimming in the Ambazari lake at 5 am in complete darkness showed how determined Sanjana was during her training.”
Sanjana did not get the desired bike (cycle) for the competition despite seeking help from city politicians and corporate but still she made it to the Indian team.
“She didn’t have a road bike, but Sanjana kept on training on a hybrid bike. Until six months ago she didn’t even have a proper road bike to train. Even during the finals, Sanjana participated with a borrowed bike,” narrated Dr Samarth.
“It is a dream come true for me and for Jeetu Sir and for Miles N Milers Family to see someone from Nagpur and Miles N Milers at the Commonwealth Games,” concluded Dr Samarth.
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