Scouted through Insta quarter-miler Rezoana Mallick Heena breaks jr national record
March 6, 2023
When Ajay reached out to Rezoana it was like a fan-girl moment for the youngster. I am a big fan of Ajay sir. I have followed sirs work and I really look up to Priya Mohan. I was stunned when I saw his message, says Rezoana who joined the coach in November 2021.
Rezoana wanted to break the news immediately to her parents but there was one small hurdle. Her parents werent aware that she was on Instagram. Maine sach bol diya (I told them the truth.) I told them Priya Mohans coach has invited me to train in Bengaluru, she says.
Rezoanas parents, both former national-level kabaddi players, didnt think twice before agreeing to send their daughter to a new part of the country. We knew about coach Ajay and we didnt even need a second to think, says uncle Imran who recently moved to Kuwait to work as construction labour.
Rezoanas record-breaking run has only strengthened the familys faith in coach Ajay.
We believe Allah has sent coach Ajay. He hasnt charged a single rupee and takes care of all her food, lodging and training expenses. We are lucky to have met a person like him, adds Imran.
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When Rezoana arrived in Bengaluru, she was clocking 45 seconds for 300m and within a couple of months she reduced her timings to sub-40s. Coach Ajay believes, that more than technique corrections it was some disciplining that brought about a big change in her performance.
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When she arrived she was constantly on her phone. Movies, music and especially Instagram. She initially blocked me on WhatsApp so I couldnt see if she was online during sleep time. So now the phone has been put away. She wasnt happy with it at all but its an addiction we needed to break, says Ajay who didnt take much time to put his foot down.
Ajay also had to convince the once-timid youngster to believe in her abilities. Even though shes just 15, Ajay feels shes as good as the prodigious Priya Mohan who has emerged as one of the brightest talents on the circuit in recent times. When I arrived here, I wasnt very confident but sir has helped me gain that champion spirit and now I am confident of doing even better. I know my phone was taken away for my own good or else I would watch reels all day, she says.
The toughest part of training in Bengaluru, for the youngster, is staying away from her parents and the city she adores. I miss Kolkataso much. I miss the food, especially the Kolkata biryani I eat Hyderabadi biryani here but its nothing like Kolkata biryani, says the youngster veering into a slightly touchy topic for food lovers.
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Key results: Men: 1. Muhammed Ajmal Variyathodi (Kerala) 46.90 seconds; 2. Rahul Ramesh Kadam (Maharashtra) 47.51; 3. T Santhosh Kumar (Tamil Nadu) 47.72.
Women: 1. Dandi Jyothika Sri (Andhra Pradesh) 53.26 seconds; 2. Aishwarya Kailash Mishra (Maharashtra) 53.49; 3. Kiran Pahal (Haryana) 54.29.
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Monday, March 6, 2023 at 5:51 pm