Debashree eyes Olympic medal

KOLKATA: It is almost a dream come true for Bengal’s Debashree Majumder. The young runner was a relieved person when her name was announced in the Indian women’s 4x400m relay team for the Rio Olympics on Wednesday night.
“I was a bit tensed as many people had said that I will miss the bus this time due to an injury,” Majumder, who is attending the national camp in Bengaluru, said.
“I missed action to an injury for some time,” she said. But the national coach Russian kept faith in Majumder and always encouraged her to make a comeback which she did well.
The top-8 finalists in last year’s IAAF World Relays in Nassau, Bahamas, have an automatic entry.
The remaining eight slots (9 to 16) are filled by taking into account the best two performances achieved by a national squad in international competitions held between January 1, 2015 and July 11, 2016.
India’s national women’s team was ranked 14th with an average timing of 3:28.46s which earned them the only relay spot from Asia.
Majumder hails from a poor family from Bethuadahari in Nadia district of West Bengal some 140 km off Kolkata. The early passing away of her father made it difficult for her mother to carry on with two daughters. Her elder sister started giving private tutions after passing out of school.
However, Majumder’s mother always backed her younger daughter to chase her dreams who battled against all odds.
“Never thought of coming this far,” the 23-year-old said. However, she sees her journey unfinished now. “I want to win an Olympic medal for my country and am determined to give my best,” she said.