Kaur keen to leave mark

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Jashanjit Kaur

Balancing studies and cycling is quite a task for Jashanjit Kaur, but the teenager says she doesn’t mind as long as the “results keep pouring in”.

The 16-year from Patiala has excelled on the junior circuit, winning golds in the track cycling nationals in the Under-16 and Under-18 categories over the last three years, and is gearing up for the Hero Asian Cycling Championships that got under way in the capital on Tuesday.
Jashanjit, who will represent India in the junior team event, says she is keen to lap up the experience.
“It will be my first international tournament and I am nervous and excited at the same time,” said Jashanjit. “I saw the international athletes train here and got a feel of what a championship is all about. I am looking ahead to my event.”
Jashanjit, who took up cycling at the instance of her father, says running remains her first love. “I will always be an athlete first, since that it is what I have loved doing as a kid. I took up cycling at the age of 14 as my father was very keen on it.
“I participated in my first tournament in 2011 and it was just after a few months of training. I won a silver in the individual event and that remains very special. It gave me hope and I became serious towards the sport.” Since 2011, the Class XII student has won a gold in each of the nationals that she has participated in. She picked up three golds in the IPSC athletic meet in 2011 in the 800, 1,500 and the 3,000 metres category, besides the best athlete award.
This was followed by a good show in 2012, where she notched up two golds and a silver in the IPSC meet and three golds in the track nationals in the capital in December last.
The youngster though isn’t sure of taking up cycling as a long-term career. “Cycling is a sport that does not evoke a lot of spectator interest nor does it attract sponsors. Tournaments like the Asian Championships will give me a perfect opportunity to assess this aspect and also see where I stand as an athlete.
“I wish to do well here and make the experience count.”