Bhubaneswar: Luck fails to smile on champion athlete

Bhubaneswar: Fortune appears to have failed to smile on Anandini Darjee, the champion of National Athletics Championships 1974-75, when compared to the present-day athletes who are showered with loads of rewards and money after winning at an event.

Now 63, Anandini won three gold medals in 200m, 400m and 800m events in 1974-75 but received a pittance in monetary benefits for her feats. All that she has got so far is Rs 1 lakh from the Odisha government for her lifetime contribution to the sports.

In 1973, at the age of 18, Anandini stunned sports lovers when she won three gold medals in 400 mt, 800 mt and 1500 mt sprint in state athletics championship and was selected for the national level games. 

Between 1974 and 1977, she won many medals in various sprint events, forcing the national selectors to call her to the training camp for Montreal Olympics 1977. However, ill luck prevailed; she could not join the camp as the call letter sent by post reached her after the joining date passed.

Recognising her contribution to the Indian athletics, the Government of India sent her to Moscow Olympics in 1980 as a delegate where she spent 27days and encouraged the Indian squad members.

“During our period, there was no proper communication system. I had clocked 56 seconds in 400m in 1976 which was then the best timing and I could have easily vied for a medal in the Olympics. As the letter reached me late, I could not participate in the national camp for the Olympics. My fellow sprinters who had clicked 58 seconds in the same event got a chance to participate in Montreal Olympics,” says Anandini.

She adds, “I had no trainer until I participated at national level games. Nor was there much technological advancement at that time. I don’t regret that. However, I’m disappointed because I was never duly recognised or rewarded by the Odisha and Union governments,” says Anandini.