LUCKNOW Young hammer thrower Anushka Yadav and Tanya Chaudhary have turned a neighbourhood rivalry into a talking point with their duel set to take place at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.
Their relationship is built on mutual encouragement. Tanya added she is fully recovered after three consecutive injuries and is confident about her prospects in Japan. “When I go to the ground, I keep Anushka’s record in mind and it helps me do better. We’re both happy when either of us breaks the other’s record. Now roommates and travelling together with the Indian contingent, the pair will carry their camaraderie and rivalry to Japan. “We want our tricolour to fly at the podium. “I missed the qualification mark by just two centimetres, and when the AFI later added my name to the squad I felt even more motivated. I will have tough competition especially from Chinese throwers and Anushka but I will look to target gold at the Asian Games.”
“It’s a healthy rivalry,” Tanya said, recalling Anushka’s playful challenge: “Didi, you set the record, I’ll break it. “She treats me like her elder sister and I treat her like a younger one,” Tanya said. “We would both be happy if either of us win medals,” Tanya said. “Anushka’s mark was a big motivation as I had been chasing the previous national record for three years and when Anushka broke it in Bhubaneswar, I told myself and I have a new target now,” she said.
Tanya was delighted to have matched the expectations of the Athletics Federation of India after missing the qualifying mark for the Asian Games earlier.
The distances tell a clear story as every mark is not only a measure of strength and technique but also proof of two athletes sharpening one another. Anushka’s performance in June prompted Tanya to adjust her training and Tanya’s new national record has again raised the bar.
“Anushka keeps me inspired to do my best so that I can break her record next time,” Tanya said.
