Keeping her pace right

KOCHI: Gayathri Chandana S is just seven years old but when she is in her skate shoes, she can outsmart anybody. Unsurprising, for she says her dream is to fly.  “I dream of flying. Hence, I  skate at high speed and distances don’t matter to me,” she adds.  She always wanted to skate. “I always wanted to do this. But, I took it up seriously when my father bought me a squad roller skates from Delhi. I began staking when I was in Std II,” says Gayathri. In two years, she took her interest to the next level and started practising at Ernakulam Children’s Park so that she could take part in competitions.

Gayathri’s mother Smitha says: “Earlier she used to practice in children’s park but due to lack of a ring facility and a proper venue, she started practising on roads. Though many children are talented, there is little facility in our state to boost their interest and as a result many  choose some other sport.”

There are many hurdles Gayathri faces while practising. Gayathri says, “ It was quite adventurous of me to practice on roads. I have to skate behind vehicles and be very careful when I do it. Now, I skate at a speed of 37 to 40 mph.”  She practices at least for two hours everyday at Kaloor stadium under the guidance of her coach, Rajesh Sivan.

Gayathri has participated in several skating competitions held in Kerala and other states. Since she turned six, she is the Ernakulam district champion in roller skating. Under the age category of 10-12, she won two gold medal and one silver in state-level skating championship in 2017. She  has also won a silver medal in 300 metre KV Nationals held in Bhopal.

Besides skating, she participates in high jump and running. Her parents, Sayim Fasulal and Smitha Sayim are supportive and assure that they take their ward for training without fail. Presently, Gayathri is preparing for a camp for Nationals that will commence on January 10, 2018 and the competition is going to be held in Chennai on January 27.