The 18-year-old Pavana Nagaraj, daughter of women\u2019s National High Jump record holder Sahana Kumari and 2010 National Inter-State men\u2019s 100m champion BG Nagaraj, won the Asian u20 gold with a personal best Long Jump of 6.32m. It came on the back of Sahana Kumari\u2019s nudge that made Pavana Nagaraj focus more on Long Jump after having started as a high jumper.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The transition to long jump came along with her training as a Heptahlete. Sahana Kumari, who is a SAI coach, revealed she wants her daughter to stick to multi-event competition. \u201cWe want her to be in multi events so that her overall development is taken care of. This is what this generation is lacking. They are focusing on just one discipline,\u201d she told SAI media.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI told her rather than stick to one event, she try Heptathlon to discover her strength. We want her to excel in multi events and she has to understand which event she is good at. As parents, or as coaches, we are not forcing her to take up any particular discipline. We\u2019re only supporting her so she can enjoy her journey,\u201d Sahana Kumari said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pavana Nagaraj, who has been supported through the Khelo India Scholarship scheme since 2018, told SAI Media that the SAI Centre in Bengaluru has played an integral role in her life. \u201cIt\u2019s my second home. I used to visit the SAI track in Bengaluru since my childhood along when my mother was training there. I joined the centre in 2017. My roots are in SAI Bengaluru,\u201d she said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pavana said her mother has been the backbone in her career. \u201cShe always accompanies me to competitions, and always backs me. Her support and presence has brought me this far. I don\u2019t think most athletes get to feel this, and I am really blessed. I\u2019ll always be grateful to both my parents for putting me on the right path on the field and off the field,\u201d she said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Sahana said she was blessed too. \u201cAs a mother, I\u2019m really happy to have a daughter like Pavana. Seeing your child succeed and realise her dream gives parents a lot of happiness. We want her to excel in the senior competitions as well. And we keep telling her to focus on the senior events, especially the Olympics as the bigger target.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe main thing is to focus and be dedicated on what you want. The mindset that we give to her sometimes maybe irritates her but later she understands, what my parents say are actually good for me,\u201d Sahana said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pavana\u2019s father BG Nagaraj is also an acclaimed sprinter who won the men\u2019s 100m gold in the AFI National Inter-State Championships in Patiala in 2010. He was crowned the fastest man in India back then for recording a time of 10.50 seconds at the 2010 Asian Games trials. He currently works with the Railways.<\/p>\r\n\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2024\/05\/london-2012-high-jumper-sahana-kumari-asks-daughter-pavana-to-focus-on-senior-events.jpg", "alt_img": "London 2012 high jumper Sahana Kumari asks daughter Pavana to focus on senior events", "alt_title": "London 2012 high jumper Sahana Kumari asks daughter Pavana to focus on senior events", "image1": null, "video": null, "seo_title": "London 2012 High Jumper Sahana Kumari Asks Daughter Pavana To Focus On Senior Events On Cricketnmore", "seo_desc": "London 2012 High Jumper Sahana Kumari Asks Daughter Pavana To Focus On Senior Events, U20 Asian Athletics Championships: Sport is in Pavana Nagaraj\u2019s blood and it is just as well that she drew upon.", "seo_keywords": "Sahana Kumari, Photo Credit, New Delhi, Pavana Nagaraj, Long Jump, U20 Asian Athletics Championships, National High Jump, National Inter, BG Nagaraj, Khelo India Scholarship, SAI Media, SAI Centre, SAI Bengaluru, AFI National Inter, State Championships", "tag": "", "tagging": "Sahana Kumari, Photo Credit, New Delhi, Pavana Nagaraj, Long Jump, U20 Asian Athletics Championships, National High Jump, National Inter, BG Nagaraj, Khelo India Scholarship, SAI Media, SAI Centre, SAI Bengaluru, AFI National Inter, State Championships", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "1", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": null, "slug": "london-2012-high-jumper-sahana-kumari-asks-daughter-pavana-to-focus-on-senior-events", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "0", "ians_date": null, "ians_time": null, "server_time": null, "trash": "0", "view_count": "692", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "1", "auto_link": "0", "created": "2024-05-04 13:24:03", "updated": "2024-05-04 13:24:03", "img_from": "Image Source: IANS", "img_source": null, "schedule_publish": null, "news_keywords": "Sahana Kumari, Photo Credit, New Delhi, Pavana Nagaraj, Long Jump, U20 Asian Athletics Championships, National High Jump, National Inter, BG Nagaraj, Khelo India Scholarship, SAI Media, SAI Centre, SAI Bengaluru, AFI National Inter, State Championships", "livescore_text": null, "livescore_link": null, "btn_text": null, "resend_feed": "1", "google_feed": "1", "read_more": "0", "posted_by": "23", "jio_date": "2024-05-04 13:24:03", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "0", "breaking_news": "0", "google_date": null, "featured": "0", "sports_name": "athletics", "cnmid": "899135", "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/sports-news\/london-2012-high-jumper-sahana-kumari-asks-daughter-pavana-to-focus-on-senior-events-14933" }