Long jumper Shaili Singh balances studies and online lessons

Juggling between online school classes and intense training has been tough for long Shaili Singh but the 18-year-old is not one to give up.

Singh, who came into the limelight after winning a silver in the World U-20 Championships last year, is now eyeing a gold in Asian Games 2022 scheduled to be held in China in September.

The Class X student divides her time between attending online lessons and training at the Sports Authority of India Centre in Bengaluru.

“It's tough, no doubt. I start my training early in the morning and then after lunch, I have to attend online classes for two or three hours. After that, I have to rush for evening training,” Singh said.

The young athlete fought COVID-19 infection in January during the third wave that swept the country. “In January, I contracted COVID-19 and had some breathing difficulties but recovered in a little over a week's time. I am fully fit now and have started training but yet to start jump training,” she said.

“My target this year is to win a gold in the Asian Games. My coach says I can do it. I am looking at jumping 6.70m to 6.75m which I feel is achievable,” Singh said.

The student at St. Patrick School, Bengaluru, missed classes and board examination last year as she was training for the Junior World Championships where she jumped a wind-assisted 6.59m to finish second. The national junior long jump record in Singh’s name stands at 6.48m, which she achieved in 2021.

“My coach (Bobby George) tells me it is important to study as well. So, I'm going to take (board) examinations in March. I can't miss online classes, I have to pass the exam,” said the protege of long jump legend Anju Bobby George.

Singh comes from a village in Jhansi district of Uttar Pradesh, where her mother Vinitha worked as a tailor to feed her three children.

“Women are doing very well in every field. In my family, my mother supports me and my (elder) sister more than my (younger) brother. So, times are changing.”