Athletics is the mother of all sporting events. Our city’s athlete M.R. Dhanusha did everyone proud by winning the Heptathlon gold in the Federation Cup Junior National Athletic Championships-2018 held at Coimbatore last week. She secured 4,596 points to clinch the gold and has been selected to the Indian Junior U-20 Athletic Camp to be held in Patiala from May 18. She is our ‘Star This Week.’

While Dhanusha secured gold in the Heptathlon, Madhu of Haryana with 4,300 points secured silver and Janaki of Tamil Nadu secured bronze with 4,200 points.

Dhanusha won gold in 100m hurdles (15.2s), Javelin (27.19mtrs), finished second in long-jump, 200m and 800m. She finished third in shot-put and fifth in high-jump.

A versatile athlete, Dhanusha trains in Chamundi Vihar Stadium in Mysuru under the guidance of former athlete Suman who runs the Raise & Shine Athletic Academy.

A former Sports Hostel – Vidyanagar product, Dhanusha has been training with Suman from 2018 and has been making steady progress.

Dhanusha, a 2nd PUC student, is the daughter of Manju and Rukmani from K.R. Nagar. She took up to athletics in 2012 and initially started with 100m and long-jump. She was coached by athletic coach Ashok B. Mantoor. She represented State in the Youth Nationals and won medals. She also won medals in the State U-16 & U-18 Athletic Championships in 100m Hurdles.

Dhanusha encouraged by her parents and her coach intends to work hard in the days to come and make a mark in the National level and represent India.