Mumbai, Oct 13 (Mid-day): Sayali Mhaishune aces 3,000m at DSO inter-school athletics to win U-17 gold; barefoot running practice at Naigaon Police Ground is routine since family can’t afford spikes
While a barefooted Sayali Mhaishune of RM Bhatt High School (Parel) was breaking new ground against all odds at the District Sports Office inter-school athletic championships at Priyadarshini Park (PDP) yesterday afternoon, her father Mangesh was mending shoes in his shop in Dadar (East).
It was a normal Monday, laden with work for Mangesh, who was busy digging into torn footwear and polishing dull shoes when mid-day caught up with him last evening. His 14-year-old younger daughter had just won her maiden U-17 gold medal in the 3,000 m event a few hours ago and he could not stop smiling as he discussed her feat and rued his inability to witness it.
Mangesh’s younger daughter had just won her maiden U-17 gold medal in the 3,000m event a few hours ago and he could not stop smiling as he discussed her feat and rued his inability to witness it. Pic/Datta Kumbhar
“I knew she was representing her school at the athletics meet. I wanted to go, but couldn’t because feeding my family is more important than going to watch her run,” said Mangesh (46), who earns between Rs 3,000 to 10,000 a month, and cannot afford to keep his shop shut even for a day.