Sprinter Srabani Nanda Becomes First Indian Athlete To Compete Amid COVID-19

Srabani Nanda has become the first Indian athlete to compete amidst a pandemic by participating in the track and field race event. Ace sprinter and Tokyo Olympic hopeful, Nanda participated in the 100m meet at the Velocity Fest organised in Jamaica. Nanda, who was training under and representing MVP Track Club, completed the race in 11.78 seconds, acquiring the third place in the meet.

The Velocity Fest also featured Olympic Sprint champions Elaine Thompson Herah and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. Thompson won the 100m meet by completing it in 11.19 seconds, while Pryce won the women’s 200m meet by completing it in 22.74 seconds.

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What You Should Know?

• Ace Sprinter Srabani Nanda is the first Indian athlete to return to competition amidst COVID-19 pandemic. 
• She participated in the Velocity Fest organised by Jamaica. 
•  Nanda completed the race in 11.78 seconds, securing the third position. 
• The fest also featured Olympic Sprinters, Elaine Thompson Herah and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. 
• Nanda hails from Odisha and specialises in 100m and 200m track events. 

Many athletes like Nanda who were aiming for the Tokyo Olympics 2020 had a setback as the pandemic hit the world and all the major sports events stood cancelled. However, the athletes have now started their training for the Tokyo Olympics which has been postponed to the next year. Recently, Dutee Chand hit headlines when news reports emerged that she has out up her BMW for sale in order to meet her Olympic training expenses amid the financial crisis that the pandemic brought. Read more about it here.

Nanda, on the other hand, has not only started her training but also hit the tracks to compete amid the global pandemic, becoming the first Indian athlete to do so. She also dusted her first competition after the pandemic by finishing 100m race in just 11.78 seconds. The Velocity Fest in which she participated was also the first track and field race organised by Jamaica since March. Although the qualifying standard for the 100m meet for the Olympics is 11.15 seconds, it doesn't matter if she achieved it or not. Because the World Athletes has suspended the Olympics Qualification Tournament till November 2020.

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Who Is Srabani Nanda

Born on May 7, 1991, 29-year-old Srabani Nanda hails from Kandhamal District of Odhisha and has specialisation in the 4 X 100m relay, 100m and 200m sprint events. She has a personal best of 11.45 seconds in 100m meet and 23.07 in 200 meets. She won gold and silver medal in 200m and 100m race at the South Asian Games in 2016. Besides, she is also lauded for winning a bronze medal in 4 X 100m relay race at the Commonwealth Youth Games in the year 2010. She represented India along with Dutee Chand, who is also from Odisha, in the Rio 2016 Olympics. She competed in one of the quickest track race of 200m and acquired the sixth position.

Picture Credit: Sports Star-The Hindu