Kashinath wins Bronze at Commonwealth Games
Medal winners of major sporting events, are always special.Their willpower and hard work stand the test of time. Kashinath Naik is one ofthem. The Karnataka athlete gave India its first international medal in JavelinThrow when he hurled the spear over 74 metres for a bronze medal at the 2010Commonwealth Games.
"I had an injury (on my shoulder) since 2005, but dueto non-availability of the right medical help, I continued to train with thehelp of pain-killers. I just had one aim and that was to win a medal in theCommonwealth Games hosted by India in 2010," recounts Kashinath, who was successfulin his CWG mission and is now recovering from the shoulder surgery he underwentrecently.
Although he is yet to gain full fitness, Kashinath has notgiven up on his Olympic goal. "I will be preparing for 2016 Olympics, butif I am unable to raise my level; I can at least guarantee a medal for Indiathrough my students. Recently, one of my students from junior category,recorded a throw of 80 mts," says the confident Kashinath with an immensesense of pride.
Javelin-throwers in India have to face a lot of hardships.In general, there is a lack of quality equipments, infrastructure and rightcoaches. Kashinath is in service with the Army and based at the Army SportsInstitute in Pune. According to Kashinath, there are talented youngsters comingto Pune for short stints, but long-term coaching is what shapes an athlete, hesays.
Having served the Army for 13 years now, Kashinath plans toset up a sports academy in his native Karwar district, after another couple ofyears of service. He praised the Goa government for supporting athletes, citingthe example of a short-training stint of state athletics contingent at ASI inPune.
Kashinath also tipped Goa's ace Javelin thrower, KajolVerekar to have a glorious future. Watching Kajal from close quarters duringthe under-18 event at Mandovi Athletic Club's all-India inter-districtchampionships in Panaji, Kashinath was impressed by the Margao-based16-year-old girl.
Although struggling to get a proper surface in Goa topractice, Kajol is making progress in her throws, with 33 metres being her bestso far. Kashinath is also open to future coaching programme for Kajol, who istraining at Fatorda under Sports Authority of India coach Avdhesh Kumar.
While India continues to be dominated by team sports,individual events like Javelin throw do not come under the limelight. However,as long as outstanding athletes like Kashinath come up with specialperformances and become an inspiration to the fellow countrymen, there willalways be a script for a special story.
