Sunshine Story: Cobbler's daughter wins gold running barefoot

While a barefooted Sayali Mhaishune of RM Bhatt High School Parel was breaking new ground against all odds at the District Sports Office interschool athletic championships at Priyadarshini Park PDP yesterday afternoon her father Mangesh was mending shoes in his shop in Dadar EastWhile Sayali Mhaishune was racing at Priyadarshini Park her father left was busy mending shoes at his shop in DadarIt was a normal Monday laden with work for Mangesh who was busy digging into torn footwear and polishing dull shoes when midday caught up with him last evening His 14yearold younger daughter had just won her maiden U17 gold medal in the 3000 m event a few hours ago and he could not stop smiling as he discussed her feat and rued his inability to witness itMangeshrsquos younger daughter had just won her maiden U17 gold medal in the 3000m event a few hours ago and he could not stop smiling as he discussed her feat and rued his inability to witness it PicDatta Kumbhar ldquoI knew she was representing her school at the athletics meet I wanted to go but couldnrsquot because feeding my family is more important than going to watch her runrdquo said Mangesh 46 who earns between R3000 to 10000 a month and cannot afford to keep his shop shut even for a dayAlso Read A 17yrolds tale from mental case to heroineldquoWhatever little I earn goes into my two daughtersrsquo education My elder daughter Mayuri 17 is doing a diploma in Information Technology while my wife Savita keeps ill frequently Sayali though has made me very proud todayrdquo said the elated father with a broad smileRead Story From ragpicker to speaker in Geneva conferenceSayali Mhaishune centre broke new ground against all odds at the District Sports Office interschool athletic championships at Priyadarshini Park PDP last afternoonSayali clocked 12278 seconds to win gold beating defending champion and school mate Sejal Kadam 13081s who is two years her senior in the process Quimcy DrsquoSouza 14123s of St Agnes High School Byculla won bronzeSayalirsquos feet laid bare the truth of her poverty ldquoMy father canrsquot afford to buy me spikes so Irsquom used to training barefoot at the Naigaon Police Ground trackrdquo said young Sayali A pair of running spikes cost anywhere between Rs 5002000Also Read How a chaiwallah became a web developerYesterdayrsquos synthetic surface at the PDP however posed a painful challenge ldquoAs I practice on mud running on this rough synthetic surface was very tough The track was very hot too as our races were around noon Around the halfway mark I was dehydrated but somehow kept running I didnrsquot expect to win a medal my aim was simply to finish the race Spikes would have definitely helped me run faster hererdquo said the Std IX student who also participates in prize moneyyielding mini marathons across the state in a bid to reduce her parentsrsquo financial burdenDad Mangesh however promises not to let the shortage of funds sour this sweet moment of success ldquoShe called to inform me about her gold I canrsquot afford an expensive gift but Irsquoll take home her favourite chocolatesrdquo assured Mangesh even as he returned to polish a pair of old black shoes His daughter too meanwhile continues to polish her athletic skills in the hope of sparkling for her country one day