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Journalism of Courage
While 24-year-old Kiran Baliyan was becoming the first Indian woman to win an Asian Games shot put medal in 72 years, her father Satish was managing traffic near Ghaziabad.
The senior Baliyan works as a head constable with the Uttar Pradesh traffic police, and hence couldn’t watch his daughter’s best throw of 17.36m in Hangzhou on Friday. But when he came to know about Kiran’s winning a historic bronze for India, the policeman got some ladoos packed for home as well to distribute among passers-by. Kiran finished behind the Chinese duo of Gong Lijiao (19.58m) and Song Jiayuan (18.92m).
“While I spend my days managing traffic, my daughter is doing India proud,” an emotional Baliyan told The Indian Express before heading back to his home in Meerut.
With her initial interest in javelin throw, parents Satish and Bobby got Kiran enrolled under coach Robin Singh at Kailash Prakash Sports Stadium in Meerut. With Baliyan Sr posted as a home guard there, the Baliyan family would take turns to accompany their daughter to training daily.
“She was a chubby kid yet wanted to pursue javelin throw. For some days, she practised the sport but hurt herself. So coach Robin Singh decided to get her practise shot put. While I would sometimes take leaves to be with my younger son at home, my wife would always accompany Kiran on her scooty to the stadium and bring her back from training twice a day. As expenses increased, we would often seek help from friends and relatives,” recalls Satish.
In her first year of practice, the youngster finished sixth in the U18 Nationals in Ranchi with a throw of 12.49m with the 3 kg put. The following year, Kiran won the bronze medal in the U-18 category at the junior nationals in Coimbatore with a throw of 14.62m. The next three years saw Kiran progressing to the 4 kg put and bagged a gold at the Junior Athletics Championships in Vijayawada with a throw of 14.54m in 2017, before crossing the 15m mark for the first time in May 2018.
“Kiran was quick to adapt to the shot out technique and learnt the glide first. She was at ease doing quarter-turns and half-turns and would also practise with the 4Kg put in training while competing with the 3 Kg put in competitions,” says coach Robin Singh.
Rapid strides
Kiran won the gold medal in the South Asian Championships apart from a fifth place at the Asian Junior Championships in 2018. She first crossed the 16m mark at the UP State Championships in 2019 with a throw of 16.87m.
“We made her train focusing more on her lower body initially. Once she crossed the 16m mark, it made her more confident to master the variations. She would watch videos of shot putters like two-time Olympic medallist Joe Kovacs to see their movements and would practice such maneuvers,” says Singh.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, she trained before sunrise and after sunset at the stadium in the light generated by an inverter battery and bulbs. “I got a police pass for us and would take her to practice before the curfew hours and late at night,” Kiran’s father recalls.
The last two years have seen Kiran crossing the 17m mark frequently, and reaching 17.92m at the Indian Grand Prix in Chandigarh prior to the Asian Games.
“She likes to throw with the rotational technique. Last year, she broke her foot and missed the Commonwealth Games qualification mark. Once the foot healed, she used the inside of the foot to lead the lower body better in this position and it has helped her in China too,” says the coach.
While mother Bobby is waiting to welcome her daughter with ladoos on her return, Baliyan Sr is ready to greet her with a salute. “Last year, she joined Rajasthan Police as a sub-inspector. After winning medals at the World Police and Fire Games, she was promoted to the rank of inspector. What more can a police jawan ask for apart from seeing his daughter doing India proud? She deserves a salute and that’s how I will welcome her,” he adds.
