Hima Das, Dutee Chand & Muhammed Anas Are Writing A New Golden Chapter In Track & Field For India

In the last few months, we have been witnessing a massive performances from our track athletes and the results have been resounding, and truly impeccable.

PTI

The flurry of gold medal wins and sensational runs on the track - it has been a gilded phase of remarkable achievements. The flag-bearers of which have been Hima Das, Dutee Chand and Muhammed Anas.

It is quite something - athletics was more in the news than cricket, that in itself is a massive victory. It has been made possible by sprinters who have taken to the race tracks - shown character, passion and desire to win.

Muhammed Anas/ AFP

With ordinary facilities and infrastructure, Indian athletes have never had it easy, but they have always found their way to glory.

Past few months have been spectacular, the turn of events have been unprecedented - at least it hasn't happened since the days of legendary PT Usha, that Indian sprinters have had so much success internationally.

Dutee Chand/ IANS

Hima Das, the 19 year-old sensation, has been the ultimate conqueror, winning six medals in a span of 30 days. And another sprint machine, 23 year-old Dutee Chand, showed her prowess when she won a gold medal at World University Games, thus becoming first Indian to win a gold at the Summer Universiade.

Hima Das/AFP

National Record holder sprinter Muhammed Anas has been making noise on the tracks, too. The 24 year-old, bettered his own national record in men's 400m race to bag a gold at the Kladno Memorial Athletics Meet at Kladno, Czech Republic. Gunning for his own records, and smashing them alright, Anas wants to better it on every occasion.

PTI

To customary belief that we are only good at cricket, these accomplishments show other side of Indian sports - a new dawn driven by the mighty warriors on the race tracks. A gold-filled chapter has changed modern Indian athletics, incompetence and underachievement has paved way for growing optimism and great belief - that track sport can really flourish.

A sport that has found it hard to remain in the reckoning, owing much to the mediocre results, is finding a new lease of life - one where winning matters, not just competing.

Dutee Chand/AP

These achievements are no doubt cause for optimism, but it is a line we need to trudge carefully. The seeds of new era have well and truly been sown, but there is work to be done.

A new generation of Indian sprinters are here, they are making us dream big, they are producing the goods, and writing a new golden chapter in Indian track sports.

The going from here will only get tougher. For our sprinters to reproduce the heroics at the highly competitive global events, the likes of World Championships and Olympics, they have to be well versed and drilled - physically and mentally.

The international level athletes need a structure well worth turning them into winners. For that to happen - investment, world-class infrastructure and facilities - are desperate need of the hour and a precursor for grand success on the global stage.

Our track athletes are good, as the likes of Hima Das, Dutee Chand and Mohammed Anas have displayed, but we don't have a system in place that will make them world beaters. For the gigantic efforts and achievements, no one deserves it more than them.

These are individuals with massive potential and need the added support on the part of the goverment and Indian athletics body. That little push can make them top-notch athletes - who will have the potential to take the Olympics by storm.

It is a buoyant new arrival for Indian track sports, and the bigger things await on the road.