Not many athletes can boast of bagging 30 gold medals in their first year of running.
But 13-year-old Sanaya Ichhaporia has not only done that but she even goes on to tell all about the 50 others she has bagged in the two years since.

Two years ago

Sanaya started running in 2004 after some family friends suggested to her parents that she join an athletics club. “She performed well in our local races and also in the All-Parsi Games.

So some friends asked us to put her under a coach,” Sanaya’s father Hoshang said.

Sanaya’s winning streak continued yesterday when she again claimed gold in the U-12 100 metres in the Bombay City District Amateur Association athletic championship organised in association with MiD DAY.

“I used to run with my colony friends and in my school games. I was doing well in those races. So I started liking running.

Three years ago I started training under professionals for 2-3 days a week. Now I train more seriously,” said a rather shy Sanaya.

Sanaya’s achievements are not restricted to medals.

She broke the U-12 100 metres record set by Nancy Fernandes which stood for 24 years.

Another old record wiped off by her was that of Diana Lobo in the 300 metres which stood for 11 years. “That record was set in 1985, the year she was born,” said her father proudly.

Original article here