Lakshmanan’s Story: From Running Barefoot to Double Asian Champion

His mother, a daily wage labourer, fought alone and ensured her son got to pursue his dreams.

India’s G Lakshmanan celebrates after winning gold in the men’s 5,000 meter event during Asian Athletics Championship.

(Photo: IANS)

G Lakshmanan, who won India two gold medals at the recently concluded Asian Athletic Championship in Bhubaneswar, once practised barefoot on the highway in Pudukottai, which was a sign of his fierce determination, said long-time coach S Loganathan.

Lakshmanan, a havaldar in the Army, "always wanted to run and was a hard worker, which is paying dividends now," Loganathan said.

The 27-year-old from Sokkurani village in Pudukottai district of Tamil Nadu came under the wings of Loganathan at the age of 16, after losing his father and has since been looked after by him like a son.

"As a boy, he came to me and wanted me to mould him into an athlete as his ambition was to be a runner," Loganathan, who runs a sports club said in Pudukottai town.

India’s G Lakshmanan celebrates after winning the gold medal in the Men’s 5,000m event during the 22nd Asian Athletics Championships. (Photo: PTI)

With a winning time of 29:55.87, Lakshmanan won a gold in the 10,000 m event. He also finished first in the 5,000m event.

"The win (for Lakshmanan) in the Asian Championship is great news for me. It has been made possible because of the years of hard work he has put in," he said of his ward's triumph after he won the 5,000m event with a time of 14 minutes, 54.48 seconds on Thursday.

The victory also ensured Lakshmanan a place in the World Championships to be held in London next month.

The role played by his (Lakshmanan’s) mother – G Jayalakshmi, a daily wage labourer, by supporting him can’t be forgotten. She brought up three children after losing her husband. Though she didn’t know much about athletics, she backed him. He had a great interest for running and braved the elements to practise without proper footwear on the road. All he wanted to do was to run.

S Loganathan, G Lakshmanan’s Coach

G Lakshmanan with the gold medal after winning the Tata Steel Kolkata 25K run in Kolkata, on 18 December 2016. (Photo: IANS)

Lakshmanan, who won a silver in the 10,000m event in the last Asian meet in China, had slipped under the radar in the years since, but his long-time coach says he revived the spark in him.

"I spoke to him and made him realise that he has a lot more to achieve. I was optimistic of a win for him ahead of the Bhubaneshwar meet. He has got the talent to achieve more. I wish he can make it to the Olympics."

"Participating in the World Athletics championship is a big step forward for him. It is a big event, where the best from across the globe participate. Everyone has some talent or the other. It is all about how one harnesses it and Lakshmanan has overcome a lot of hardships and made a name for himself. He can get better," the coach said.

(With inputs from PTI.)