THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It seems Neena was a student who never disappointed her teachers, and performed up to their expectations. Or else, what could compel her physical education teacher Ramachandran, who trained her in primary classes, come all the way from Koyilandy to the state capital to witness his disciple Neena Varakil making the golden leap of 6.39 m in the 35th National Games?
The gold medallist from the state in Long Jump shares the heart-warming gesture of the teacher. “For every sports meet I participate, sir will call me over phone at least a day before and tell me to do well, and this has been something he has been doing without fail for many years. This time, he made a very unexpected visit to my event without my knowledge. Only when he rang me up much after the event did I know that he was watching me perform,” smiles Neena.
A talented gem identified by her Ramachandran sir from the classrooms of Mappila School, Koyilandy, Neena was, however, little-known in her hometown of Meppayur. “As I played on a Jharkhand ticket in the junior level for four years, people used to ask me whether I do not attend any games. With the National Games win, I have again become the talk of the town and the love and blessings of my townsfolk have been pouring over into my mobile phone through Whatsapp and SMS messages,” she smiles.
Neena has been training in Sports Authority of India’s Lakshmibai National College for Physical Education here for the past three years under coach M A George, who had a double delight, with both his disciples - Neena and Prajusha - netting gold and silver respectively in the Games.
Getting her idol Anju Bobby George come over and congratulate her for the win is what she feels is the icing on the cake. “I had a secret wish to receive the medal from her. Though it did not happen, she coming near me and appreciating on the occasion are moments to cheer forever,” say Neenas. Of the six tries, she attained the best height in the first attempt itself on the sand bed of University Stadium.
Dreaming of joining the 6.50 m elite league of Indian women leapers which has predecessors like Anju, J J Sobha, Pramila Aiyappa and Prajusha, Neena says that if the sport needs to gather momentum, a lot more support has to come other than training. “Athletics is not an area of importance as far as sponsors are concerned. We ourselves are finding the money to buy many indispensable sports paraphernalia”, says the 23-year-old who is a Ticket Collector with Railway Sports Promotion Board, Gujarat.
Track and field dreams aside, her immediate goal is to support her father, a daily wage labourer, to build a sturdy house in place of the years-old building where her four-member family, which also includes her mother and younger sister, lives.
