"I have no sponsors and that is why I am struggling to improve myself" - Indian runner Lili Das

Indian middle-distance runner Lili Das displayed immense potential in 2016. However, she has struggled to win a senior international medal despite achieving success at an early stage in her career. She recently cited a lack of sponsorship for not reaching her potential. She says it has limited her ability to compete at the highest level.

Das, however, is determined to achieve her goals. She last set a national record eight years ago in the 1500m at the 2016 Federation Cup (Junior). Now at the age of 26, she continues to strive for international recognition.

Lili Das qualified for the 2016 World Junior Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland. She finished 10th in the 1500m final. The talented runner also bagged gold medals in the 800m and 1500m at the Asian Junior Championships that year.

However, she has not had a transition to the senior level as she would have fancied. Transitioning to any senior-level competition has been difficult, with her only international medal being a bronze that she won in the 800m at the 2019 South Asian Games.

Lili Das remains optimistic despite all the challenges she has faced.

"I have won international medals at the junior level, but somehow, I am not winning international medals at the senior level. I missed a medal at the 2017 Asian Championships and missed out on the 2018 and 2022 Asian Games," she was quoted as saying by PTI (via The Times Of India).

Not ready to give up yet, she has her eyes set on the upcoming competitions. Das added:

"But I am not giving up just yet. I am 26 now, but luckily, I have not had major injuries in my career, and as long as I am fit, I will keep working hard and try to win international medals. My next target is the 2025 Asian Championships and then the 2026 Asian Games."

"Currently in India, there is disparity among athletes in getting sponsorship. I have no sponsors and that is why I am struggling to improve myself," she concluded.

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"I have to do whatever I can to improve my timing" - Lili Das

Das has been successful on the domestic front. She bagged a gold medal in the 1500m National Inter-State Championships, where she beat K M Deeksha, who is a national record holder.

The 26-year-old also recently won the 5000m gold at the Federation Cup apart from participating in the TCS World 10K Run in Bengaluru in April.

"Running longer distances is an attempt to improve my timing in the 1500m. Let's see what happens. I have to do whatever I can to improve my timing," she said in the same interview.

Working as an office superintendent at the Eastern Railways headquarters in Kolkata, Lili Das is set to compete in the Inter Railways Meet in August and the National Open.

"I won a gold here (Inter-State) and if I do well in the upcoming events, I am hoping to get promoted to chief OS (office superintendent)," she added.