Tintu Luka's race with fortune

The year was 2002. It was the Kranteerava Stadium in Bangalore. Very intimidating, just the ground itself. That’s where I met my, and I’m sure every budding Indian woman athlete’s, role model – PT Usha – for the first time. I stopped to get my idols autograph while my dad made me pose with her for a picture. All of 13, that was one of the most overwhelming feelings of my life. Then I entered the warm up area. There she was again, this time with a young girl, her protégé, who looked more or less of my age. She looked the kind who was preparing for this meet for a long time and was there for just one purpose alone – to kill the competition! I was just like, yeah dude, bring it on! Little did the naive, young me know back then that that girl was Tintu Luka. The meet was the DSO Schools Nationals.

So after I lost terribly to Luka in the first nationals of my life ( Luka went on to win that race and I stood a proud 6th out of 7 athletes ), I had just one thing on my mind. I have got to beat that girl. 7 years I spent training every single day of the week, hoping against hope to win that one national gold medal. But year after year that medal went to Tintu. Finally, Tintu went on to break National records, represent the country at the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and today she’s all set to represent India at the highest possible level. Yes, she has made it to the semi final of the Olympic Games in London, and I don’t know about you, but I’m going to be praying really hard for her to win that race.

For those of you who missed the 800 meters heat, here’s a quick recap. Luka made sure she got off to a good start and did her best to ensure that she cut in quickly enough from the 200 meter mark in order to be able to run from the inside of the track as much as possible. She stayed with the pack and never let herself fall back. That was a good strategy to employ, never let the competition get way ahead of you. Throughout the race, however, Luka seemed like she would finish in the 4th position.

An anxious dive at the finish line, ensured otherwise. Luka finished in third place with a timing of 2:01.75 seconds, a tad slower than her personal best of 1:59.17 seconds. During the semi finals however, Tintu will need to up her performance by a few notches as she will be competing with the likes of Pamela Jamelo and Caster Semenya.

So maybe Tintu doesn’t even know me. She’s probably seen so many like me in her illustrious career so far. Who once used to be my biggest competition, is today my biggest inspiration. Moulded by just the right person, Tintu is the athlete I could never be, but always wanted to be. I hope she manages a podium finish at the Olympics at London. I hope she manages to make up for the loss of that medal she so rightfully deserved at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, but was so dishearteningly deprived of. Even if she doesn’t manage to make it to the top 3, I hope she exits the Olympics putting up her best show ever. Because the Tintu that I, and the rest of the country know, is one that never backs down without a fight. When she takes the field, be confident of a performance wreathed with class, grace, style and perfection. Good luck Tintu! You’ve made us all proud.

(Written by Zeba Changi)