Teenage quarter-miler Rejoanna Malik Heena reluctantly admits that she used to spend manner an excessive amount of time on social media, particularly Instagram. The 15-year-old used to spend numerous hours scrolling by means of her telephone, watching reels and even importing her coaching clips when she was in Kolkata. But little did {the teenager} know that her Instagram coaching clip would open doorways for the teen to coach alongside the likes of two-time U20 World Championships medalist Priya Mohan and ultimately break a nationwide report.
In the 400m Nationals on Tuesday, Rezoana broke the under-16 nationwide report with 53.22s on the clock, rewriting Anjana Thamke’s decade-old report of 54.57s. Hailing from Bengal’s Nadia district, Rejoana now trains underneath Priya’s coach Arjun Ajay in Bengaluru. The Bengaluru-based coach had a memorable outing on the 400m Nationals, with three of his wards securing prime positions of their respective age classes – U-16 Rezoana Mallik Heena, U-18 Khushi Umesh and U-20 Priya Mohan.
While Coach Ajay scouts most of his trainees at junior meets, Rezzoana’s path was very completely different. “I found his training videos. She was doing jumping drills on the bank of the river. Then there were some running videos that I analyzed and felt had qualities that I could work with. He had a good stature and the length of his steps was ideal. I knew this girl had potential,” says coach Ajay, who has over 46k followers on Insta. The younger coach adopted his intestine and determined to enroll him in his program with out even seeing him run in particular person.
nationwide report alert
West Bengal’s Rejoana Mallick Heena created a brand new nationwide report in Under 16 Girls 400m race on the 4th National Open 400m Championships at LNCPE, Trivandrum, Kerala. She clocked 53.22 to interrupt Anjana Thamke’s report of 54.57 to win the gold. pic.twitter.com/UN0eDRga6X
– Athletics Federation of India (@afiindia) March 6, 2023
When Ajay approached Rejoana, it was a fan-girl second for the teen. “I am a big fan of Ajay sir. I have followed sir’s work and I really look up to Priya Mohan. I was stunned when I saw his message,” says Rezzoana, who joined Coach in November 2021.
Rezoana needed to inform her mother and father the information instantly however there was one small impediment. Her mother and father did not know she was on Instagram. “Maine sach bol diya (I told him the truth.) I told him that Priya Mohan’s coach invited me to train in Bengaluru,” she says.
Rezoana’s mother and father, each former national-level kabaddi gamers, did not suppose twice earlier than agreeing to ship their daughter to a brand new a part of the nation. “We knew about coach Ajay and we didn’t need a second to think,” says uncle Imran, who not too long ago moved to Kuwait to work as a development employee.
Rejoana’s record-breaking run has solely strengthened the household’s religion in Coach Ajay.
“We consider that Allah has despatched Coach Ajay. He has not taken a single rupee and takes care of all of the bills of his meals, keep and coaching. We are fortunate that we have now obtained an individual like him.
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When Rejoana reached Bengaluru, she was clocking 45 seconds for 300m and inside a number of months she had introduced her time all the way down to 40 seconds. Coach Ajay believes that greater than approach enchancment, it was some self-discipline that made a giant distinction in his efficiency.
“When she came over she was constantly on her phone. Movies, music and especially Instagram. She initially blocked me on WhatsApp so I couldn’t see if she was online at bedtime. So now The phone has been put down. She wasn’t at all happy about it but it’s a habit we have to break,” says Ajay who did not take lengthy to place his foot down.
Ajay has to persuade the ever-timid younger woman to consider in her talents. Even although she is simply 15, Ajay feels she is nearly as good because the prodigy Priya Mohan, who has emerged as one of many brightest skills on the circuit in current instances. “When I got here right here, I used to be not very assured however Sir has helped me regain that champion spirit and now I’ve the boldness to do even higher. I do know my calling was taken away for my very own good Otherwise I might have been watching reels all day,” she says.
The hardest a part of coaching in Bengaluru for the teen is being away from his mother and father and his favourite metropolis. “I miss Kolkata a lot. I miss food, especially Kolkata Biryani. I eat Hyderabadi biryani here, but it is nothing like Kolkata biryani,” says the youth, hinting at a barely delicate topic for foodies.
Main Results: Male: 1. Mohd. Ajmal Variathodi (Kerala) 46.90 sec; 2. Rahul Ramesh Kadam (Maharashtra) 47.51; 3. T Santosh Kumar (Tamil Nadu) 47.72.
girls: 1. Dandi Jyothika Sri (Andhra Pradesh) 53.26 seconds; 2. Aishwarya Kailash Mishra (Maharashtra) 53.49; 3. Kiran Pahal (Haryana) 54.29.
Girls U16: 1. Rejoana Mallick Heena (West Bengal) 53.22 sec (New National Girls Under 16 report. Old: 54.57, Anjana Thamke, Lucknow, 2012); 2. Mansi Bharekar (Maharashtra) 56.77; 3. M Netra (Tamil Nadu) 57.66.
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
