Khelo India Youth Games: Living her mother's dream, Kerala shot putter Anupriya VS impresses on the junior circuit

At the age of 18, Anupriya VS wrote her name in the Khelo India Youth Games record books when she won the gold medal with a new competition record of 17.22 metres.

Anupriya VS with her mother Rajani. (Image: KIYG)

Chennai: Anupriya VS's mother Rajani wanted to pursue a career as a shot putter in her younger years but had to give up her dream due to lack of support from her family. But seeing that her daughter also had a keen interest in sports, she encouraged the then 14-year-old Anupriya to try organizing events, after some initial success in running events at school level.

Naturally, Anupriya started with shot put while her mother Rajani took on the role of coach for the initial years. On Tuesday, the 18-year-old from Kerala etched her name in the Khelo India Youth Games record books as she won the gold medal with a new competition record of 17.22 metres.

But the journey was far from easy. Rajani, who is now a housewife, was not much of a trained coach and Anupriya had to be enrolled at the KC Throwing Academy in Kasaragod, headed by coach KC Gireesh. As she began to show promise, the costs of training and traveling for competitions began to rise.

To cover these costs, the family liquidated their assets, while her father, Sasi K, resigned from his job in a quarry so he could travel with her. The local community also played a crucial role by providing financial support through scholarships.

And Anupriya made the most of all the support by winning bronze medals at the Asian Youth Championships in Uzbekistan and the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago. After winning the silver medal at the last edition of the Khelo India Youth Games, Anupriya had set a target to not only win the gold in Chennai but also get her name in the record books.

“She was very determined for this event as this is her last chance to participate in the Khelo India Youth Games. Ultimately, her hard work and the blessings of coach and mother came through,” said an elated Sasi.

Having missed her chance to shine in the sun, Rajani dreams of her daughter going to the Olympics one day. Anupriya says she is driven by the hunger to fulfill her mother's wish. “I came here with a goal and I achieved it. I hope if I continue this form, I can represent India in the Olympics and that is my mother's dream,” she added.