No money to buy proper equipment, Sindhushree used borrowed pole to break national record

BHUBANESWAR: National record-breaking pole vaulter G Sindhushree lacked the funds to buy proper equipment after her father's death in 2022, forcing her to compete with shorter poles until she borrowed a longer one just two weeks before the National Inter-State Championships here.

Using her friend's gear, unheralded Sindhushree from Karnataka set an unexpected national record, clinching the gold medal and also a ticket to the Asian Games. The 25-year-old, hailing from a family of modest means at Bhadravati in Shimoga district, cleared 4.25m to better Tamil Nadu athlete Baranica Elangovan's one-month old previous national record of 4.20m.

"My father died in 2022 due to heart attack. What I achieved today is all because of my father. Every morning, he would take me for running and he wanted me to play for the country in international events. I am going to fulfil his dream with the Asian Games (participation)," said Sindhushree, holding a photo of her father.

"I qualified for the World University Games but my father was not there to watch me. I am the first one doing sports in my family, other members do want to send a girl to sports. My father fought with all of them and so I joined SAI hostel in Bengaluru in 2016. I started my sports journey at that time."

Her father, R Ganesh, was an electrician and her mother does tailoring.

"Since my mother is looking after my younger sister's study, my grandfather is supporting me financially," said an emotional Sindhushree who dedicated his gold and expected ticket to the Asian Games to her father.

"I have no sponsors, no job and it's difficult to manage. I was searching for a job but could not find as my performance was not coming. I am hoping to get a job after this performance. I need to help my family," said the diminutive pole vaulter who stands at 159cm (5 feet two-and-half inches).

Sindhushree bettered his personal best by 25cm. Her earlier personal best was 4m during the Indian Athletics Series 6 in Chennai in May. She has won just one medal in a major domestic championships so far -- a silver in 2023 National Inter-State Championships at the same venue here with a performance of 3.80m.

The financial struggles meant that she could not even buy a proper pole for herself for competition. She was using a shorter pole before coming here.

"I didn't have a proper pole earlier. All the poles were shorter and they have become loose after competitions. I did training and learned techniques with shorter poles, that was why I could not do well in earlier competitions like the Federation Cup.

"Luckily, I came here with a longer pole which was actually brought by a friend of mine. I got this just a few days back and I could do better here."

Initially, Sindhushree was a 400m runner, but a local coach made her to shift to pole vault in 2017. My coach said I can do better in pole vault."

Asked about qualifying for the Asian Games, she said, "It seems it's a dream, It all happened because of my father (above)."

Sindhushree coach Vijeesh MM said her most important quality is her patience.

"Her patience is her strength, because the performance was not coming for many years, she was not competing with proper poles and she has financial difficulties.

"With right poles and right nutrition support, she will do better in the Asian Games. She does not need to focus on her technique. I am hoping that she can go above 4.30m."

The bronze medal mark in the 2022 Asian Games was 4.30m.