Nashik-Born Monika Athare gave her own sordid story the perfect kick bagging gold in the women's half marathon at the Mumbai Marathon yesterday
Monika Athare, Lalita Babar
Monika Athare is all smiles with her gold medal after the women's half marathon at CST yesterday. Pic/Noel D'Souza
Nashik-Born Monika Athare gave her own sordid story the perfect kick bagging gold in the women's half marathon at the Mumbai Marathon yesterday. Athare, who was thrown out of the National camp in 2013 due to a knee injury by Russian athletics coach Nikolai Snesarev, clocked 1:19:13seconds, and besides pocketing a cash prize of R5 lakh, also received a bear hug from Bollywood actor John Abraham.
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Lalita Babar
The 24-year-old, who earlier cried foul for being "a victim of dirty politics by the federation", this time, was dazzled with flashlight from the paparazzi at the finish line, right outside Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station. Athare admitted that she wouldn't have been able to accomplish the feat without Indian Olympian and her roommate Lalita Babar's inspiration. "I have competed numerous times against Lalita. She was my roommate as well during our national training camps.
She taught me a lot while I was staying with her, which is why I have won so many marathons in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata. Lalita's training was at a very high level and I think that has rubbed off on me as well. My confidence dipped in the last two years because of the injury. But it's good that the confidence has come back with this win," Athare told mid-day yesterday.
Athare's next target is to stretch herself in the 42km marathon in Delhi, an event that will serve as a qualifier for the World Championships in August. However, there was a dip in her tone when asked about her financial safety. "Whatever prize money I get from the marathons, I try and run my life with it. I can at least spend on my diet, shoes and kit. If I want to train in Kenya, then this money is very useful," she said. "But this amount is very little. If we get a good sponsor, then definitely we will do well. Sponsors only support the athlete when they reach on top, what about the ones who are upcoming?" Athare explained.
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