Chennai: Subha Venkatsan is a classic case of small town athletes with infrastructure less than no one punching their weight to achieve the highest speech phase in the world.
The 21-year-old athlete from Thiruvembur in Trichy will represent India as part of a mixture of 4 x 400 mixtures at the Tokyo Olympics.
His father, Venkatess was a construction worker and his mother, Poongodi, was a housewife.
Subha is the youngest of the three siblings.
His talent was identified at a young age by his motherly grandfather, Sangilimutu.
“Whatever I have achieved today is because of the belief he has in me.
He worked in the police department and was interested in sports and from a young age, he used to instill confidence in me that I was destined for greater things , “Subha said to Ti.
However, his grandfather did not live to watch his belief justified.
He died in 2013, a year after Subha was absorbed in the authority of the development of the Sports Center for the superiority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) in Chennai.
However, since then, his mother, Poongodi became a pillar of support, expanding ponytitude to young athletes every time he felt sad.
“My mother is just a housewife.
But, now she even discussed my timings.
He opposed the advice of many of our relatives who opposed sending me to Chennai to a sports hostel.
My parents have become the most supportive of my dreams and it has helped me a lot , “Subha said.
After sharpening his potential at SDAT Chennai, Subha began medalling at the National Meets and in 2018 he was part of a 4 x 400 m women’s relay team who won the Silver Medal at the Asian Junior Athletics Championship held in Japan and in 2019 won two silver medals in Junior South Asian Games was held in Nepal.
Immediately, he was absorbed in the National Camp in Patiala for the senior team, where he camped since.
“The first person I called after my choice of learning to the Olympic team was my mother.
All my family members were very happy for me,” Subha said.
Indira Suresh, Subha coach in the SDAT remembers subha discipline and a single-minded goal to reach the Olympic stage, which has come true now.
“Athletes who won Caurels for the country at the Junior level did not get recognition from the government.
Subha is also used to feeling disappointed.
It is very important that achievement at the junior level on the world stage is also recognized so that they become further motivated,” Indira said to Tii.
Suba on his side has motivated itself to remain in a clear condition of the mind before the Olympics when the athletes have been locked up in the national camp because of a pandemic.
The model of his role is US Runner Allyson Felix, who has won several gold medals on track and field.
“At the age of 35, after giving birth to his son, he had qualified for the Olympics.
I feel motivated looking at my seniors here and athletes like Allyson,” Subha said.