How a 400m blitz reunited Paris Olympics-bound Kiran Pahal with her family

Sporting the proverbial million dollar smile, Paris Olympics-bound Kiran Pahal late on Friday (June 28) posed for photographs with fans and volunteers at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium in Panchkula. The Rohtak-born, now the second-fastest Indian quartermiler, has done the unthinkable.

A whole host of athletes are staring at their final chance to make the cut for the Olympics — the direct qualification standards for which are steep. Pahal stands out though. The 24-year-old stormed past the 50.95 seconds cut-off not once but twice at the 63rd National Inter-state Athletics Meet. And she did it on back-to-back days to claim the gold.

As impressive as that may sound, there’s more to uncover here. Pahal was competing in her first major competition in eight months, having just overcome a tough period in her life.

Her world came crashing down with the loss of her father and biggest supporter a couple of years ago. Besides the immense personal loss, Pahal had to deal with isolation as her family distanced themselves from her over her zealous commitment to her sport — which while demanding full financial, physical and mental commitment seldom gives anything in return.

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The power of sports

Kiran Pahal sat down with Sportskeeda on the sidelines of the event to reflect on her journey from the lowest point to being bound for the Paris Olympics.

The youngster, visibly emotional, said she cannot recall when was the last time her mother or brother back home called to check in on her. But such is the power of sports.

After her life-changing run in the semifinal, where she clocked 50.92 seconds, the second-fastest 400m timing by an Indian woman ever, her name flashed all over social media — starting with the Athletics Federation of India handles.

It was but natural that the news reached her hometown in Rohtak. Messages began to pour in, but it was the long-awaited phone call from her mother that got to Pahal.

“Today, I received a phone call from home, things are much better now,” Kiran Pahal told Sportskeeda hiding tears behind the proverbial million dollar smile.

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Kiran Pahal looking beyond Paris Olympics

There’s a certain swagger attached to track-and-field athletes. Usain Bolt’s got his “Lighting Bolt” celebration, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce her vibrant hairdos. Closer home, Hima Das and Animesh Kujur lead the list of examples.

Pitted against those big names, Kiran Pahal comes across as plain and unassuming. She barely stays on the track to celebrate after clocking historic results.

But the youngster knows that the world is watching and she hopes to inspire young girls back home in Haryana to take up the sport even though there was no conscious effort towards becoming a “role model” so to say.

“I had never thought about what or who would come after me, but I hope that young girls back home in Haryana who saw my results over the last few days will be inspired to take up the sport,” Kiran Pahal said.

The state of Haryana has produced a number of iconic athletes over the years - wrestlers, led by the Phogats and Sakshi Malik, current hockey legends like Rani Rampal and Monika Malik to name a few.

Her 400m blitz, Pahal hopes, inspires a few to try and take up track and field.

Paris Olympics will unfold when they do, but the 24-year-old is looking at the bigger picture. Her sense of belonging remains deeply rooted in family. Her week has been as eventful as it gets, but she cherishes that one phone call from home more.

“Family’s support is very important,” she said. “It solidifies your base and if those close to you are supportive, anything is possible.”

Someone who is loved and supported, the Paris Olympics-bound runner says, can scale any mountain or, as in her case, any distance.