Excessive-flying Unnathi and her development into a brand new problem

Observe athlete Unnathi Aiyappa is adept at two occasions — 200m dash and 100m hurdles. She has the medals to show it.

Within the final six months, Unnathi has stepped on the rostrum in worldwide and home competitions. She gained bronze within the 100m hurdles on the Asian Below-20 championships in Dubai, and created meet data within the 200m and 100m hurdles on the latest South Asian Junior Athletics meet at Chennai.

Within the Federation Cup in Could, Unnathi went previous the skilled Srabani Nanda to win the 200m.

Because the transition to the senior stage beckons, Unnathi has determined to give attention to a brand new occasion — 400m hurdles. Given her inexperience on this occasion, this poses a giant problem.

The transfer to 400m hurdles — thought-about the hardest amongst monitor and area occasions — was inspired by her father and coach, former athlete B.P. Aiyappa. Extra steerage comes from Unnathi’s mom, former Olympic heptathlete Pramila Aiyappa.

“My dad and I’ve all the time talked about altering my occasion to 400m hurdles. My father was additionally a 400m athlete. He is aware of that I’ve the velocity, stride size and expertise for 400m hurdles. Our plan is to change once I get to the seniors,” Unnathi stated.

Encouraging begin

Unnathi gave 400m hurdles a shot on the Junior Federation Cup at Lucknow, the place she claimed a bronze medal. It was an encouraging end result for a primary time try.

“I entered the Junior Federation Cup with low expectations. I competed within the 400m hurdles for the primary time, and was pleased to complete third.

“I ran the 400m hurdles as a substitute of the 200m. I ran a timing 59.80s, which is superb for a primary time try. It was a bit check that I set for myself. This was the beginning of a gradual transition,” Unnathi stated.

“Even within the 200m, you’ll discover that my stride size opens up quite a bit. I’ve a mix of excellent frequency and stride size. My dad believes that Indians are excellent at 400m hurdles. As a coach, he is aware of what’s greatest for me. Even for me personally, the 400m hurdles has all the time been engaging. I do love all hurdles occasions,” she stated.

Elevated depth

Unnathi will quickly start to coach on this new occasion with elevated depth. “I’m on a break now. On this low season, I’ll prepare and begin my exercise routines in 400m hurdles. I’m conscious that there’s a lot of laborious work in retailer for me, however I’m excited,” she stated.

The 19-year-old was not enthused by her double gold on the latest South Asian Junior Athletics championship. Her physique was not prepared for the competitors, as she had simply returned from the World Athletics Below-20 Championships held at Lima (Peru).

“I used to be very upset with my performances in Chennai. It was nowhere near my greatest. The 200m was comparatively okay — I clocked 23.91s whereas my private greatest is 23.85s.

“However for the 100m hurdles, I used to be not match in any respect. I had travelled on a 40-hour flight from Lima simply 5 days earlier than the South Asian championship started. I couldn’t do a lot in these 5 days resulting from jet lag.

“I slept by the primary two days, and did a bit of coaching later. I don’t assume my physique was in good situation. I want I might have executed higher, however I can not do a lot when the physique doesn’t reply,” Unnathi stated.

Packed schedule

The packed schedule this 12 months has pressured Unnathi to coach that a lot tougher. “My dad and I knew that this 12 months was a vital one, as a result of there have been so many worldwide meets. We would have liked that further focus to win medals. It has been a really laborious season, however gratifying. This season’s success serves as nice motivation for larger challenges that lie forward,” Unnathi stated.

Unnathi’s willingness to go that further mile comes from her endless love for the game. “To be sincere, I don’t like doing something apart from sports activities. I realise {that a} sportsperson’s profession doesn’t final ceaselessly. I’ll most likely lose my means to run in 15-20 years,” she stated.

There was disappointment, nonetheless, in retailer on the World Athletics Below-20 Championships, the place Unnathi couldn’t make it previous the qualification rounds within the 200m and 100m hurdles.

Exterior the monitor, Unnathi is pursuing a level from REVA College in Bengaluru. A second 12 months scholar, Unnathi is pleased to have the complete help of her college.

“I’m learning journalism, economics and political science now. I like journalism — possibly I can do one thing on this area a while sooner or later.

“REVA College has been very supportive. They offer me leeway on the subject of attendance and teachers. I’m allowed to simply write my exams. It’s laborious to deal with teachers and sports activities, however thus far I’ve been capable of deal with each features,” she stated.

Like most sportspersons her age, Unnathi is energetic on social media. It’s a window into her life — an perception into what it takes to make it as an athlete.

“All sportspersons are on social media now, particularly folks of my era. In case you share your achievements on social media, it reaches an entire vary of individuals. Most children and youngsters imagine this,” Unnathi stated.

Inspiration

Unnathi phrases her dad and mom as her “primary inspiration”. After from mom and father, Unnathi seems as much as ladies’s 400m hurdles world report holder Sydney McLaughlin and 2023 World Championships 400m hurdles winner Femke Bol.

“Relating to idols, my dad and mom are primary. That’s fairly apparent. Sydney McLaughlin is one other large inspiration. I watch quite a lot of movies of Femke Bol. Her coaching and exercise routines are great,” Unnathi stated.

Unnathi said that she would love to satisfy these international superstars.

She did get the possibility to work together with Australian sprinter Torrie Lewis, who competed within the Paris Olympics.

Torrie claimed silver within the ladies’s 200m at Lima. “We had been very pleased and excited to be round an Olympian,” Unnathi stated.

Unnathi additionally praised Jamaica’s upcoming star Alana Reid, who claimed the 100m gold with a timing of 11.18s on the World Athletics U-20 Championships.

The World College Video games is Unnathi’s subsequent goal. “To qualify and win a medal on the World College Video games is the primary goal for now. I’ll proceed to compete in just a few senior and junior occasions as effectively,” she stated.

Trying on the large image, Unnathi has large goals. “The 2026 Asian Video games is on my thoughts. I must win a medal there. I additionally need to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics,” Unnathi stated.