Battling odds, Lakshadweep athletes try to find a footing

Chennai: Mohammed Sajir KC from Lakshadweep could only finish sixth in one of the 800m heats at the Khelo India Youth Games here on Tuesday. But his performance deserves a lot of credit, given the sporting situation in the union territory.
Lakshadweep is home to several islands, but none of them have a proper sporting infrastructure. On top of that, there are only two sports coaches with MD Hassan assuming the bulk of the responsibility.Hassan also doubles up as the secretary of the Lakshadweep Athletics Association and is the chef-de-mission of the contingent for the Khelo Youth Games. A total of 12 athletes (11 in athletics and 1 in badminton) are taking part.
“I am happy with the performances so far. Sajir (1:58.92) clocked the best-ever timing by a Lakshadweep athlete in 800m across all age categories. We did not have a camp dedicated for Khelo India but were training for the School Games held recently. It is not possible for us to train athletes regularly,” Hassan told TOI.
The union territory does not have a standard stadium. “We train on the long jump pit and every island just has a 200m track. We had sent a proposal to build a 400m track in the Amini island but unfortunately, there isn’t any progress.” Before 2017, Lakshadweep did not have an association under the Athletics Federation of India (AFI). And it was in 2016 that the Athletics Association of Lakshadweep was formed. This enabled the athletes to take part in national meets, which they weren’t able to before. “We started to participate in South Zone meets and the youth Nationals only after the formation of the association. This national participation helped in motivating the players to compete,” said Hassan.
Football is the most famous sport among the boys in Lakshadweep and several take it up at a young age. “Most of the boys do not take up athletics as the union territory has a passion for football. I find players for athletics by looking at their performances in football. Looking at their physique and other parameters, I train them in events that suits them. Slowly the situation is changing.”
Mubassina puts Lakshadweep on athletics map:
Mubassina Mohammed, in 2022, became the first athlete to bag a national-level medal for the union territory. She won gold in girls long jump at the National Youth Championships.