In 2007 during an NCC camp held in Kolar, S Chandu of Muthyalpete of Mulbagal taluk won the first place in the cross-country race. At the time Chandu had no ambition of becoming a middle distance runner. In fact, he had not even heard of this sports term.
When Chandu was a 9th standard student of high school section of Government Pre-university College, his NCC mates provoked him to take up the challenge of running the cross-country. Without any previous training, he took up the challenge and won the first place.
Five years later his only ambition is to represent his district in the state in middle distance running and gain more laurels. On this track, Chandu, who is an ITI student in Pavan College of Kolar, has come a long way.
On October 9, 2010 he participated in the state-level PU college cross-country race and came in the 15th place, while in the triple jump event he came 12th. However, he did not lose hope. Earlier in the district level he got the second place in the 8 kms cross-country race and first place in the triple jump.
Training camp
On September 11, 2011 in the NCC Combined Annual Training Camp he got the first place in cross-country race, first place in shooting and the best cadet of the year award.
He has participated consistently in major and minor athletic championship during this year, irrespective of the places he secured. On June 2, 2012 he clinched the first place in cross-country race held at the National Integration Camp held in Tejpur.
This year on August 5 and 6 in the Bangalore rural district level Dasara sports he clinched the second place in 4x400 mts relay. In July in the 24th state level junior-senior athletic championship in Bangalore he secured the 5th place in 800 mts race. In October in the 25th junior-senior athletic championship held in Davangere he clinched the 3rd place.
Cross-country race
Earlier in September this year he took the first place in the cross-country race held during the NCC Combined Annual Training Camp held in Vidyanagar in Bangalore.
Chandu came into limelight without any coaching or training, but now he trains under P L Shankarappa, athletic coach of Youth Services and Sports Department. “As I train under the coach every morning and evening, I have been able to perform well at state-level meets”, he says.
“I did not know anything about the fundamentals necessary for an athlete such as physical fitness, exercises and training before coming to the district stadium. Now I am practising with spike shoes, but I intend to be a middle distance runner”, he adds.
