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Mumbai Cobbler’s Daughter Ran Barefoot. Still, Won Gold In 3000m Inter-District Race.

byStorypickers
13th October 2015
2 minute read

She is just 14. Her father is a cobbler in Mumbai and none of the family members are into sports. But, Sayali Mhaishune participates and races in state-level and district-level competitions in Maharashtra to earn some extra money and help her parents financially.

Yes, this is one of the most inspirational stories you will read today.

In a moving tale that will warm your heart, a barefooted Sayali clocked 12:27.8 minutes in the 3,000 m event to win gold at the District Sports Office Inter-School Athletic Championships.

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While all this was taking place at Priyadarshini Park, her father, Manjesh, was busy mending shoes in his small shop in Dadar.

 

In the process, she managed to defeat the defending champion and her school friend Sejal Kadam (13:08.1s), who is two years her senior.

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She has just begun her journey and these achievements are only milestones that she is on the right track.

 

Sayali’s father cannot afford to buy spikes, but the 9th standard student of RM Bhatt High School (Parel) was overjoyed after her record-breaking performance.

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‘My father can’t afford to buy me spikes, so I’m used to training barefoot at the Naigaon Police Ground track. As I practice on mud, running on this rough synthetic surface was very tough. The track was very hot too as our races were around noon. Around the halfway mark, I was dehydrated, but somehow kept running. I didn’t expect to win a medal, my aim was simply to finish the race. Spikes would have definitely helped me run faster here.’

 

And here’s what Manjesh said after her daughter’s extraordinary achievement:

‘I knew she was representing her school at the athletics meet. I wanted to go, but couldn’t because feeding my family is more important than going to watch her run. Whatever little I earn goes into my two daughters’ education. My elder daughter Mayuri (17) is doing a diploma in Information Technology, while my wife Savita keeps ill frequently. Sayali though has made me very proud today. She called to inform me about her gold. I can’t afford an expensive gift, but I’ll take home her favorite chocolates.’

Having such a daughter is the biggest gift a father can have. Similarly, having such a father is the biggest gift a daughter can have.

Keep running, Sayali and one day you will win a gold in the Olympics. 🙂

News Source: NDTV

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