Gujarat’s Javelin Thrower Razia Sheikh Lives an Uncertain Life | GamePlan Today

GamePlan Today recollects the historic and iconic Tokyo Olympics that gave us miraculous surprises.

Tokyo Olympics 2020, made India celebrate our new champion Neeraj Chopra, the Gold Medal winner.

GamePlan Today’s Sneek Peek

13 years Gold Drought

Lost in History

Well, who is Razia Sheikh?

What happened to her now?

Does she own any records?

Where we lost her?

Final Plan

Let us dig deep into this more.

13 years Gold Drought

Our 13-year-old gold drought was outclassed by Neeraj Chopra in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. It’s been a decade for Indian athletes to own a golden athletic medal.

He is the 1st Indian to hold a gold medal in Javelin Throw. He has scripted the history for our country in javelin throwing with his golden spear.

Lost in History

While creating javelin throw history, we have forgotten yet another golden spear. It was Razia Sheikh who dominated the track once at both national & international levels.

She represented India in javelin throw even before the nation could talk about Javelin.

Well, who is Razia Sheikh?

Vadodara of Gujarat is the home of India’s 1st woman athlete in the javelin throw.  As a 15-year-old girl, Razia stepped into the sports world.

Her very 1st attempt was in cricket. She initiated her run in the cricket game with amazing fast bowling skills.

Years passed! She participated in the 1st national tournament and flew her efforts earning silver.

What happened to her now?

Now, Razia is a Former Indian track & field athlete who was competing in the javelin throw. She was the 1st Indian Woman to cross 50 meters barrier in the 1987 South Asian Games.

Does she own any records?

Well! She is both a record breaker and record-maker.

She also had represented 2 editions of the Asian Games.

  • One was in 1982 at Delhi
  • Another was in 1986 Seoul

In 1982, Razia made her 1st International debut at Delhi’s Asian Games. Then, in 1986, she broke the 19-year-old records of Indian Javelin thrower at Playmakers Athletics Delhi.

In 1987, Razia secured her 1st gold at Kolkata’s South Asian Games. She marked herself as the 1st ever Indian woman to cross the 50-meter barrier.

She was granted the “Sardar Patel” award.

Where we lost her?

Besides these records, her life was full of nightmares and very limited financial resources.

In 2003, she was forced to quit her railway job due to politics at her work. She then relied on part-time school jobs for her earnings.

But now! Can you imagine how she is living?

She has got an uncertain life where she lives under the mercy of her pension. But recognition for all her hopes she took care of herself and her generation as well.

She is a tale of 25 gold medals with 12 silver medals in national tournaments. She is another tale of 9 medals with 2 gold medals in International Games.   

More than this she is now a forgotten tale. We have failed to take care of the veterans in a journey of searching for a new champion.

Final Plan

Unfortunately, gold-winning sportspersons are not getting their due. GamePlan Today hopes that we will find some positive change in further days.  

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