Her face has been seen in several newspapers, yet she is still not a household name. We are talking about the long distance runner Tippavva Sannakki, who comes from a humble origin. Zola Budd was the Olympic 10,000 metre runner who came from an equally humble origin in South Africa. But there the resemblance ends.

Our Correspondent met up with Tippavva Sannakki at the Teresian College, Mysore. She is all of 21, studies in First year BA and stays at the sports hostel. She is the most unlikely looking athlete. Timid as a field mouse and yet a steady endurance runner on the tracks. She is shy and it takes a lot to coax her out of her shell. She has won laurels at the State and national level and soon hopes to compete in Internationals. But will she or won’t she? Unlike the Payolli Express, P. T. Usha who had her Nambiar as the coach during her formative years, Sannakki does not have her coach.

So tell us, how long have you been running?
I was noticed at the primary school khokho matches and it was suggested that I take part in distance running. I took part in local athletic meets.

Where was that?
I was born in Shivapur village, Bilegi Taluk of Bagalkot district. I studied at the government primary school.

That was where it all began…?
When I was in the 8th standard I took part in the Dasara sports meet. And earlier when I was in the 7th standard, I had taken part in the school sports meets. That was where I was noticed by the Joint Director of the District Youth Services and Sports and moved to the DYSS hostel so that I could be given proper training.

Tell me how many prizes have you won so far?
More than 30 at the State level and more than 20 at the national level.

What were the events?
The 5000 and 10,000 metres and Cross - country events.

One of your most memorable wins…?
When I got the bronze at the inter - University championship held in Chennai in December 2009.

Surely there is more…
At the Mysore University Dasara games I made three records last year, the 6 kilometers cross country and the 5000 and 10,000 metres events.

Tell us something about your training?
I am thankful to my DYSS coach Damodara Gowda. The training usually is like this. Sprint for 200 metres, rest for a five minutes and again sprint for 200 metres with a five minute rest and so on till the target of 10,000 metres is reached. This is to build up endurance.

It is said that long distance runners are shown videos of other greats so that their style of running can be evaluated. Do you have anything like that?
No we do not have anything like that.

Tell me a little about your diet. Surely for all this you need a special diet?
Only hostel food. Simple food.

You are now 21 years old. Are you not thinking of an international event where you can compete with other runners?
I was to take up in an international cross country event in Ethiopia but that did not come through.

What about the Olympics?
I have not thought about it.

Have you been encouraged at home?
My father and mother are agriculturalists and my brother is a mechanic. They have always encouraged me.

What about here in College?
Sr. Joyce, the Principal and the teachers help me. Extra classes are taken for me to catch up on lessons when I have to be absent because of some sports event.

Prasad, the Teresian College PT teacher interrupts to say that several fees have been waived by the college so that Sannakki does not have to worry about finances. But this is still not enough.

We wish Sannakki the very best in her career in athletics and has a few words with the Teresian College PT teacher, Prasad, who says that the Rs.100 a day allocated for diet is inadequate. “So, if extra supplements are needed then Sannakki has to fend for herself. We do what we can but we hope that more help is given to her."

This shy girl needs all the help she can get, but whether it will be forthcoming or not remains to be seen.

By Jagadish Prasad
Courtesy: Star of Mysore

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