'Winning individual gold was her dream'

Speaking with Deccan Herald over the phone from Halli Siddapura in Kundapur taluk, Shetty said: “We are glad she did it.”

Ashwini Akkunji on Thursday bagged a gold medal at the 400-metres hurdle at the Asian Games being held in China. “Guidance from her Russian coach has helped her in success,” the athlete’s father.

At the Commonwealth Games, she was instrumental in India getting a gold in 4x400-metres relay.

“Due to hectic training, she has not visited us for 14 months but has kept in touch through the phone,” he added.

Ashwini Akkunji’s gold medalist victory has repeated history for the third time as it was bagged only twice before by MD Valsamma in 1982 and then by PT Usha in the year 1986 respectively.