How many parents are brave enough to encourage their child to take up sports seriously? Going one step forward, how many will insist that their kids try their hand in athletics? Gandangada Nachappa Bopanna has been fortunate in that regard. His parents’ vision didn’t go wrong as the Sree Bhagwan Mahaveer Jain College athlete scripted a success story, claiming five gold medals at the Bangalore University inter-collegiate athletic meet last week.
A record-equalling win in the 100 metres, where he timed 10.6 seconds, stood out among the five gold, with the other medals coming from the 200M, long jump and the two relays. The 19-year-old’s efforts tasted sweeter for him as it came after a long injury lay-off, dating back to October last year.
“I had an hamstring injury last year and I lost about a year due to that. This is my first meet after I got injured. So I was a little bit nervous at first. But when I easily won the 200M, I was confident of doing well in other events as well,” said Bopanna. “I am happy to equal the record in my favourite event, the 100 metres. Considering the fact that it came after an injury, it is sweeter than any medal in my career,” he added.
Bopanna was also the spearhead of SBMJC’s relay teams that made history by erasing the 16-year-old record that stood in Al-Ameen College’s name. Anchoring both the 4x100 and 4x400 teams, Bopanna’s dash was crucial in SBMJC in clocking a good time.
“Yes, we have a good relay team comprising Karan, Kiran, Jaiprakash C Shetty and Bopanna that can reap rich rewards in the coming years. All are equally good, but Bopanna has that extra burst as a surprise element when he is in full flow. His presence makes a huge difference to the side,” said former international Uday Prabhu, under whom Bopanna trains at the Bangalore Sports Club.
“Bopanna is a good athlete in his age group. But the main thing is that most of the athletes lose their way when they are past 19 or 20 years. If Bopanna can make steady progress from now on, then there is a good chance that he can be a good medal prospect,” he added.
Bopanna, who came into athletics at the age of 14, says he wouldn’t have taken up the sport but for the support of his parents, G C Nachappa, a bank employee, and mother, G N Pushpa. “I owe a lot to my parents. My father and mother forced me to take up sports. And they wanted me to be an athlete and not anything else. So it gave me a lot of encouragement and motivation. Now things a working well for me. And I am confident I can get where my parents want me to.”
Before injury slowed down his progress, Bopanna had made a mark on the national scene too, at the Meerut National junior meet and in the South Zone championship in 2005.
He now wants to make a gradual transition to senior ranks. “My first aim is to win the National championship in the 100 and 200 metres,” said Bopanna.