By Amala Dasarathi
15-year-old Sayali Mhaishune is one of seven young athletes selected to be trained by former athlete Ashwini Nachappa, as part of a campaign started by Dabur. In October 2015, Sayali became famous for winning the 3000 metre running event, while running barefoot, in the under-17 district sports office inter-school athletic championships in Mumbai. She beat a schoolmate, who is a senior of hers by two years, who wore spikes and was the reigning champion.
Sayali is currently in the tenth standard in RM Bhatt High School, Parel, Mumbai, which she commutes to by walking about two kilometres from her home in Dadar. When we called Sayali, she had just come back from school, and had a couple of hours to unwind and finish homework before her daily athletics training at 7.30 pm.
Tell us about how you began running. How did you get interested in it? Was it just a general interest in playing sports in school that led to it?
I began running when I was in sixth standard. My cousin used to train with a coach near my house in the Naigaon Police Ground track. She told me that I should go also go to this coach for training, and that’s how I started running. The coach, Mr. Lumaji Dhuri, trains teenagers for kho kho and marathons. I began by running junior marathons and playing in kho kho matches under his guidance.
I still train with him. He’s nice. He’s never unreasonably strict with us. If there is something that I am doing wrong when I’m running, he just explains where I’m going wrong and doesn’t unnecessarily scold me.
What do you find difficult or challenging as a part of training and what helps you keep going? Do you have an athlete or anyone else who you look to for inspiration in such times?
We don’t really do any extra training apart from the running practice I have been doing all this while, so it never gets too challenging for me. But, if I think I am going wrong somewhere or I’m finding something difficult, then I talk to my cousin, who also used to run. She tells me if I’m lifting my legs wrong or putting too much pressure on a certain part of my body when I’m running. (pauses) I don’t tell my mom anything about training. She gets too worried, so there’s no point! (laughs) Before a race, I usually talk to my coach for a few minutes. He really makes me feel ready to win the race. He always tells me that the only option I have is to win, and I prepare to run thinking that.
I really admire Ashwini Nachappa and PT Usha. I don’t know any male runners enough to look up to them, yet, but I’ve seen Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.
What do you love most about running?
I love everything about running! It’s the one thing that I will never ever give up in my life. You might laugh, but I actually love going for practice every day. It’s really nice to train along with everyone else that comes to Lumaji Sir.
Is there a particular race or event that has been the most memorable for you?
The time I ran at Priyadarshini Park, when I won the under-17 district championship, is definitely the most memorable for me because I won even though I didn’t think I would. I was only 14 and most of the other girls were a year or two older, and seemed so much bigger, so I didn’t think I stood a chance against them.
Tell us about your training regime. Does it involve a particular diet?
I have training every day in the evening, from 7.30 pm – 9.45 pm. That’s about it. I don’t have a diet or anything like that at all! Actually, everyone is always telling me to eat. They say it so much that it even gets annoying sometimes (laughs). I can eat chips, drink Coke whenever I want. But I’m not supposed to eat ice-cream, because apparently I will fall sick.
Have you got to travel to other cities for tournaments or training?
No, I haven’t travelled outside Mumbai anywhere yet. But I hope that I get to travel somewhere, maybe through a tournament.
Where?
(laughs) Anywhere! I really don’t care where, I really just want to travel somewhere outside Mumbai.
How did this Dabur campaign happen? What was the process through which you got selected?
Someone in Dabur had seen an article about me in Mid-Day. They called and asked me to come for their try-outs, through which they would select athletes to be trained by Ashwini Nachappa. I got selected through these.
What other upcoming stuff do you have apart from the Dabur training?
Actually, the Dabur training hasn’t started yet. So, that is something I am looking forward to. My training with Lumaji Sir is going on as usual. The marathons in Mumbai will start in about two months. I will be running in those. Also, I’m in the tenth standard now (laughs), so my only plan for the next year is to study. My board exams seem so close by!
What other hobbies do you have apart from running?
Honestly, I don’t really have any time for anything other than school, homework and my running practice right now. (pauses) I’m in tenth standard!
But otherwise, I like to paint. I also like watching movies. Ajay Devgn is one of my favourite Bollywood actors. I really liked his movie Singham.
Do you see a future in running or do you have other interests that you might want to pursue?
I know I’ll never stop running, but I don’t know if I want to be a professional athlete or not. I guess I’ve never really thought about it!