A 5-year-old child from Upper Assam’s remote village under West Jorhat town is under the limelight for all the right reasons. Geetanjali Barua started running ever since she could remember and trains at the open edgy field every morning.
Born to a marginalized family, Geetanjali’s father Montu Baruah is a daily wage earner and her mother Poppy Baruah does the household chores. Her parents have big dreams for their daughter and aspire she would be a professional marathoner in the coming years.
Geetanjali is not enrolled in any professional training institute neither does she have professional sports shoes but makes sure to run at least 15 km every morning donning her casual pumps with full dedication.
From Sprint queen Hima Das, pugilist Lovlina Borgohain to cricketer Riyan Parag–Assam is bestowed with sports enthusiast and athletes bringing laurels for the country as a whole and the locals believe Geetanjali will make it big when she grows up.
Her talent has apparently drawn the attention of many including Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. “Assam is brimming with many hidden talents. And 5-year old Gitanjali Barua from Jorhat, who runs 15 km daily is another reiteration of the same. Heartening to know about her story. Assam Govt will do everything to realise her aspirations of being an athlete. Best wishes.” Sonowal wrote on Twitter.
Under Sonowal’s instructions, an additional deputy commissioner and the district sports officer visited her house this week. They examined her training aspects and diet.
Member-secretary of the state-level advisory committee for student and youth welfare, Lakhya Konwar informed the media that if need arises they will bring Geetanjali to Guwahati for advanced training.
Inputs: Ritu Raj Phukan
Photo: @SarbanandaSonowal
