Karnataka sprinter and fitness model, Varsha Rohit, a student in St Aloysius college is all set to make the country proud as she gets trained for the 2019 Olympic trials. She does not have second thoughts when asked who her role model is. She gives all credit to her parents Vani Rohit and Rohit Poojari who were into athletics themselves and supported her throughout.
In conversation with Varsha:
1. How does a typical day in the life of Varsha Rohit look like?
My day starts at 5 in the morning, I’m out to track by 6. As usual, morning training from 6-8.
Then I head back home, freshen up, eat, sleep for two hours and head to the gym at 12-1. Followed by the evening track workout from 4-7. Then go to bed by 10. And then get up in the morning again at 5 and the whole cycle repeats. This goes same way 6 days a week. Except for Sunday’s, Sunday is Rest day. On Sunday’s, I mostly go catch up with my friends or go watch a movie. Either way, Sunday’s I’ll be out the whole time as that’s the only day I get to spend time on myself and with my friends.
2. Could you talk about your development of interest in athletics? When did it dawn to you that you should consider athletics on a serious note and do it for the nation?
Since my parents were athletes, you can say it runs in my blood. But I wasn’t an athlete from the beginning, I used to play volleyball for the state. Then there came a time where team games didn’t work for me anymore so my school physical director and Lorna Gomes asked me to take up running and my career. And I’m so glad she did.
When I won my first state gold medal I fell in love with track and field right then. Then nationals happened , won a gold and I knew this is where I fit and just like that I developed interest to this game over night. I knew what I was getting into, I knew what I wanted. India never won an Olympic medal in track events. And I wanted to be the first one to do it for the nation. Soon I started training professionally.
3. You are young and already on your journey to make it big. Does the weight of expectations ever make you feel pressurized?
It’s always nice to know that people expect something from me but does it pressurize me? Oh yes it does. People constantly come to me and ask what’s my time now in 100 or how much will I run in the next meet or ask me to promise them to get a medal back home. It’s obvious I cannot give an exact answer to that. But I’ll always promise them to give my best and make them proud.
4. How significant is a coach in an athlete’s journey? Tell us more about your coach.
A coach plays a very important role in every athlete’s career, for he is the one to shape our future. Yes I know it’s our sacrifice and dedication is what matters, but without a coach you cannot improve in a short time period and won’t know your mistakes and corrections which is why a coach is needed to guide us in every step.
I trained in Mangalore for the last 10yrs under an international coach Mr Dinesh Kunder.
I recently moved to Bangalore for training and work and now I train under coach Aiyappa who is not just a coach to us but also as a mentor , a friend.
5. Define one proud moment in your life.
One proud moment in my life was when I won three gold medals back to back in a national level meet in Ranchi.
6. Have you had serious injuries? Do you ever have those moments when you feel totally down? During such instances, who is your go-to person? How do you cope up with it?
Yes of course, being an athlete, injuries are a part of your life. No matter how careful you are while you train, injuries are something that every sports person deals with. One of my major injury was when I tore my meniscus tissue and seeing my MRI report, doctors told me I won’t be able to run for a very long time which of course I refused to believe. It took whole of my summer and off season to recover. But with good Physiotherapy and treatment I was back on track after a year gap! In such times the only person I look up to and go to is my mom. She’s my role model my mentor.
7. How did your school and college support you in this journey?
My school and college supported me while it came to athletics. I had first and last hours off, If I missed an exam due to races, I was given permission to write it once I’m back, my notes were completed by my classmates and friends for which I’ll always thank them for, I was allowed to train at school hours too so that I could train both times and get good rest.
8. How is the training for the Olympics going?
The Olympic qualifiers aren’t done yet, the qualification will be done in 2019 and based on your consistent performance. I have 3 years to prepare for it, going give all that I have to make it, then leave the rest to god.
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9. Talk about the role of your family and their support in your life.
Dad made sure I didn’t lack in anything I needed for my training. If I wanted something related to running and I asked him for it, I’d get it by the next day or the earliest possible. I’m lucky to have parents who support in what I do and they believe in me.
About my mother, she is my best friend. She was into athletics as well and has seen me train, she has seen me suffer through injuries so if there’s anyone who is going to make me feel better about my injuries or failures, it has to be her. I cannot even explain the sacrifices she’s done for me. She got up every morning at 5 for the last 10 years with me so that I’ll have something in the morning to eat and drink before I head to track. I can go on for days talking about the love, support and sacrifice my parents have given and done for me.
10. Lastly, you have been a popular face in the fashion industry as well endorsing for brands such as Zara, Nike. How do you manage to juggle two different streams and still do it with grace?
Having two totally different Streams was definitely not easy. I don’t take the fashion industry as a serious career for the long run .Whenever I get time, I schedule all my shows and pending shoots and finish them, as I don’t want it to effect on my training. I was always an athlete never a model, I never signed up to be a model, but in time as I got so many offers on shoots , ads, movies, I was soon referred as a model too. Slowly without even knowing two careers were built.
All the best to Varsha! We really hope she makes India proud in the future.