Shourya’s brave journey from ACL pain to bronze gain

Shourya Ambure in full flight. Pic/Special Arrangement

The word Shourya in Sanskrit means bravery. And it seems only fitting that 17 years ago, IPS officers Rupali and Avinash Ambure decided to name their daughter Shourya. On Sunday, just 11 months after suffering a career-threatening ACL injury, Shourya became the first Indian woman to win an athletics medal at the Youth Olympic Games, clinching bronze in the 100m hurdles in Dakar, Senegal.

"In the last four years, all I could think of was going to the Youth Olympics. But when I tore my ACL in December while practising hurdles, I thought my dream was shattered. I underwent surgery at Aspetar [Qatar] in January. Typically, ACL surgery requires around nine months of recovery, but I had only eight months before the Youth Nationals, where the winner would qualify for the Youth Olympics.

I was inspired by how Murali Sreeshankar [long jumper] recovered from his ACL injury and went on to win silver at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. So, I worked extra hard, got back into shape in six months and competed in the district and state meets before the nationals," Thane-based Shourya, who clocked a personal best of 13.59 seconds in Dakar, tells mid-day.

As they say, fortune favours the brave, and Shourya had some luck on her side too. "The initial national meet was held on September 3 in Ludhiana, but I tripped and fell in the final. However, the girl who won gold did not have an Indian passport, so a re-trial was held on September 21 in Bengaluru, where I came out on top," says Shourya, a Class XII science student at Universal High School, Thane.

Shourya with her IPS officer parents, mum Rupali and dad Avinash

Interestingly, athletics was not Shourya's first introduction to the world outside studies, as her mother Rupali reveals. "I always wanted my daughter to take up extracurricular activities. So, when she was in kindergarten, I enrolled her in music and Kathak classes, but she would often doze off. However, when we sent her to Ajit Kulkarni's AIM Sports Foundation, she took an immediate liking to athletics and would happily wake up at 4 am to train," says Rupali, 47, Superintendent of Police (Operations) at the Maharashtra State Security Corporation.

Her father Avinash, a Commandant with State Reserve Police Force Group 8, stressed that the couple never put any additional pressure on their daughter. "We gave her complete freedom to choose her career. We allowed her to follow her passion and simply supported her throughout," says Avinash, 47.

Shourya remains grateful to her parents, admitting that their personality traits have rubbed off on her. "Hard work, patience and perseverance are some of the traits I get from them. Watching them serve the country has motivated me to make my country proud in my own way," says Shourya, who has also won two silvers at the Asian Youth Games and a bronze at the Asian U-18 Championships.

The doting parents are particularly proud of their daughter's humility. "The best thing about her is that she is getting humbler each day. Despite her success, she has no ego. Even after winning bronze in Dakar, she was busy consoling some of her competitors," says Rupali.

While her Youth Olympics success is yet to sink in, Shourya is already planning her next steps. "I'm looking forward to the World School Games next month, followed by the World U-20 and Asian U-20 Athletics Championships over the next couple of years," Shourya signs off.

Shourya's dedication and discipline set her apart, says Coach Kulkarni

Shourya Ambure's coach Ajit Kulkarni, 53, believes the 17-year-old's dedication and discipline from an early age convinced him that she was destined for success.

Ajit Kulkarni

"Shourya was six when she joined my AIM Sports Foundation, but her dedication and discipline always stood out. She has always been very coachable, and that's a gift from God. Not every athlete is so open to feedback and advice," said Kulkarni, who has been coaching for 26 years.

Kulkarni however, admitted that a podium finish at the Youth Olympic Games is a surprise, considering the strong field. "We knew we could finish in the top five, but to win bronze in a field featuring the world's top-ranked hurdlers is really special," added Kulkarni.

Four
No of international medals won by Shourya Ambure (one bronze at Youth Olympics, two silvers at Asian Youth Games, one bronze at Asian U-18 C'ships)