Perseverance and determination have long been the way to get what one sets their eyes on and no matter what the circumstances are, hard work and passion will always open up a way to greater avenues. OP Jaisha is one of the leading examples of this.
The Indian track athlete did not have it easy by any means as she had to tackle extreme poverty and lack of facilities to get where she is today and even then, obstacles haunt her but she isn’t the kind who gives up easily.
OP Jaisha currently holds the record in the marathon where she clocked a whopping 2:34:43 in the 2015 World Championships and she improved her own timing which was previously 2:37:29.
Her hardships started from an early age wherein she would have to walk miles to sell milk and sometimes when there was no food at home, she’d even eat mud to survive. She walked more the 2 kilometers to school but things took a turn for good when she participated in a sports event in school and beat the national champion by over 100m. This was just the beginning.
While at Assumption College, Jaisha blew all records in the 2005 University Games by winning gold medals in 1,500, 5000 and 10,000 meters events.
Little did she know that she’d go onto represent India in the 2006 CW Games in Melbourne Australia, and she also won a bronze medal in the 5000 m event at the Doha Asiad.
She would also go on to break the national record in 3000 meters steeplechase with a time of 10:03:05 while participating in the 50th Inter-State Athletics Championships held in Patiala.
In 2014, she won another bronze at 1500m event in the Asian Games and though 2016 could have been better for her at the Olympics, OP Jaisha has set an example for every young girl and woman who wants to run and achieve her dreams.
