Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Mar 3: Well-known athlete from coastal Karnataka, Ashwini Akkuinji, who is backed by stellar records in international events, has decided to bid adieu to her sports career after 2019. Ashwini, who made India proud by winning gold at Commonwealth Games and Asiad, has however, expressed her readiness to represent her country in the Asiad and Commonwealth Games being held during 2018.
Pouring out her mind during her conversation over phone with a Kannada daily, Ashwini recalled the moments of disgrace, fulfillment, insult and celebrations during her participation in sports events. She also announced that she would be available to participate in only two major sports events hereafter. Ashwini, who stated that she would stay away from track events since 2019, said she was very glad for representing the country for 16 long years in various events.
"On accounts of my sports career, I lost my personal life. Although I am proud to have brought laurels to my country, I also am suffering from a feeling of guilt for having distanced from my family, native place, friends, and relatives. I want to spend time among them in an effort to cover the lost years. I cannot forget the people who hailed me when I won medals, and did not desert me when my image was sullied. When I suffered for no fault of mine, people were by my side. Time has healed the scars and life has taught me lot of things," she explained.
Even after retirement, Ashwini will not be totally away from sports. She plans to train youngsters towards turning them into international athletes. For this, she has sought help from the state government. Given a chance, she wants to work for the state youth empowerment and sports department, and is prepared to discharge any responsibility she might be entrusted with. She is interested in discussing problems they face with the athletes, managing their grievances, finding solution to the problems of coaches etc.
Ashwini has a feeling that she may not be now able to win medals for the country in track events as in the past. Therefore she wants to pave way for younger generation. She says she is not able to maintain the level of fitness an international athlete is expected to, as her body is responding the way it did in the past. She however insists that this decision was not influenced by the ban placed on her due to drugs controversy in 2011 which deprived her of the chance to take part in Olympics the next year. Thereafter, she has never been able to touch the peak form. After all the members of Indian relay team faced ban for consumption of anabolic steroids in 2011, her hopes of representing the country in Olympics were dashed. In spite of trying her best, Ashwini has not been able to perform to her maximum capacity after that shocking episode, and the regret of not being able to participate in Olympics remains.