Saifur: Passing exams on and off the track

Panaji: Saifur Mondal aims to excel at whatever he does.

That includes the sprints, a B. Com degree and odd jobs, often resulting in juggling all three on a single day.

Like on Friday at the State Athletics Championships. The 17-year-old won his U-18 100m final with ease as his coach Shashi Kumar predicted he would and did an encore after having won the gold medal last year as well.

However, a delay in the day’s schedule meant Mondal missed college examinations in general finance and banking.

He spent the night buried in his books but still hopes to clear the papers in good time, thanks to flexibility shown by his college DMC, Mapusa.

Mondal, who hails from West Bengal, moved to Goa with his family during childhood. His father Rahim is a daily wage earner and mother Sirina Bibi a domestic help.

The challenges arising from a household struggling to eke out a living appears to have galvanised the teenager. As indeed the lack of encouragement from his father who insists he works instead and bring something to the table.

“I run to college from home in Calangute to Mapusa, building endurance and stamina while saving travel expenses,” he said.

He also picks up odd jobs to earn some money, even though the combination of work, studies and training often leaves him with a “heavy head.”

Mondal’s resolve concerns his academic ambitions and an ultimate dream to help young sportspersons via an M. Ed in physical education.

A resolve well and truly justified by the young athlete’s prowess at studies with a distinction at the HSS level and a first class at SSC while topping the list at Don Bosco school, Calangute.