Training opportunities helped this runner shine

For the last one year, Delhi's middle distance runner Tanuj Panwar had been quite regular at the Nehru Stadium. It helped him enhance his running profile from silver in relay event (4x400m) to individual gold (800m) in the junior category at the national level.

Tanuj Panwar
Middle distance runner

HT Image

For the last one year, Delhi's middle distance runner Tanuj Panwar had been quite regular at the Nehru Stadium. It helped him enhance his running profile from silver in relay event (4x400m) to individual gold (800m) in the junior category at the national level.

Tanuj said better training facilities greatly contributed to his success at the national level. "It does make a difference when all the competitors are at par," the upcoming runner said of winning the 800m title in the junior federation cup this year.

The first year college student took up sports seriously only after his Class X board exams.

The youngster, however, was able to channelise his energy properly when the Nehru Stadium was thrown open to public. "It helped me polish my running skills," Tanuj said of first making a mark in the zonal competitions and then at the national level.

In 2010, he won a bronze in 400m in the school national level. But in 2011, he was quite impressive in the Junior North Zone track and field meet, winning gold in 800m and silver in 400m.

But this year the talented runner, who hails from Mahilpur near the Capital, raised his profile further by winning a title in the national level event.

The benefits of making available the facilities have touched others too. Beant Singh, 14, from Karnal, a former footballer, has shifted his base to Delhi to avail of the facilities. "There is no proper running track (read synthetic) back home. So I shifted to Delhi," said Beant, who won the bronze medal in 600m event (u-14) in the inter-zone competition in Pune.