Shubham Pandey Pandey, the son of a taxi driver, clinched gold in the U-18 boys' discus throw on Day Two of the Mumbai Suburban District Athletic Association Annual Athletics Championship at Sports Authority of India (SAI), Kandivli yesterday. Shubham, who won silver on the opening day with a 15.16-metre throw in the shot put, hurled the discus at a distance of 34.47m.

Shubham's father Vijayshaym drives a taxi for 15 to 17 hours to keep the home fires burning. To reduce travel time, Shubham now stays at a rented premises near SAI. "My monthly expenses are R10,000 to R12,000 which includes my training, diet and house rent. Papa drives the taxi from 5 am to 8 pm and at times, even till 10 at night. He provides me the money I require and keeps some for household expenses. Our family friends also help me financially. I asked my father for permission to do a part-time job, but he told me to concentrate on athletics," Shubham told mid-day.