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We interview S.N. Mohammed Salahuddin, a young Triple Jump athlete from Tamil Nadu. He is the son of Mr. K.S. Mohammed Nizamuddin (1991 Colombo South Asian Games Triple Jump Gold medalist), and recently represented India at the Gwangju World University Games:-
1. Congratulations for your performance at the Universiade (World University Games), held at Gwangju, South Korea. How special is your feeling? How was your experience there, during the games?
A: I feel very happy about getting the chance to participate in the World University Games, which is one of the most important world-level tournaments. I feel I’ve started touching my achievements list, by this. And I acquired very good experience there, as I watched how the champions get trained over for the events and I’ve got an idea about what I must have to go through, to do something big next time.
2. Why did you choose athletics as your aim in life?
Ans:- My first active participation in the sports was at my school Sports Day, and I bagged some prizes initially. Once during the 8th standard, I was chosen for a meet, but was removed from it on the final day and told that I should improve my performance.
My parents, who were present there to watch me run were disappointed, came up to me and asked what had taken place. My father reassured me and suggested that I should start specialized training from the next day. So that was my start as a determined athlete.
3. Your father, Mr. K.S. Mohammed Nizamuddin, won the gold medal at the 1991 Colombo SAF Games for the nation. Did you want to become an athlete yourself or were you inspired by him?
Ans:- It’s not really like that, it all started after that mentioned incident took place, I took athletics seriously and achieved more and more. It’s good to be an achiever, and I went to achieve a lot, and that’s what made me into the game. Athletics is a game which requires only my effort – it’s not a team game, like cricket or football. So, I like it to win with the help of my own effort. Apart from my dad, Jonathan David Edwards, the triple jump World record holder, from Great Britain, inspired me a lot. He is awesome!
4. How old were you when you first developed an interest in athletics? How has your journey been till now?Ans:- I started developing an interest in this sport at the age of 14. The journey till now is going quite good, but it has been hard in parts. The life of an athlete is very hard. There are some injuries, pains and similar sort of things, but an achievement can fade these instantly as well. I hope it gets better by the Olympic Games.
5. How did you feel when you realised you had broken your father's record of 14.89 m (which he set in 1987) at the Nehru Stadium, in 2011?
Ans:- Ah, it’s a good question (smiles). Actually, during 2010, I read about my father’s record in a book, and imagined I would break it. I was confident that I’d make it by next year. I kept telling my dad to watch for my name to replace his. After I broke the record in 2011, I was very excited and proud, because the record stood for 24 years – a long time. He was extremely proud to know it was I who had broken his record. I also wanted to make him happy, and I was successful in doing so.
6. In a country obsessed very much with cricket and football, how difficult it is to claim a name in athletics?
A:- In India, people give too much importance to cricket, and the authorities spend a lot of money on it, but they don’t do the same for the sake of athletics. Just twenty countries in the world take part in cricket, but more than 200 countries participate in athletics, so it’s one of toughest sports in the world. If people show some interest and provide encouragement in the field of athletics, India can bag many gold medals in the coming Olympics.
7. So how do you manage both academics and athletics together?
A:- Academics are not at all a problem for me. Both my school teachers and college teachers support me a lot, and I always manage to get more than 60% marks in the exams, so it’s not difficult for me to handle both at the same time.
8. How does your educational institutes help you building you as a sportsman?Ans:- My educational institutes are easy with me, and they support me a lot. They provide me enough time to train hard for the sports, and so balancing between studies and games is not hard for me.
9. Are you preparing hard for the 2016 Olympic Games?Ans:- I’m currently not aiming for the 2016 Olympics in Rio, but I’m training hard with the aim of representing India in the 2020 Olympics as well as in the 2024 Olympics from now on.
10. Apart from athletics, which other sports do you like to play and watch? Who is your favourite in that sport?Ans:- I’m mad about football. Cristiano Ronaldo and Frank Lampard are my favourite footballers.
11. What is your message for the young athletes of India who are hesitating to pursue sport as a career?
A:- Believe in hard work. Hard work can gift you achievements a bit late, but it can take you to new heights. Always be disciplined. And those who hesitate, should have an intense interest in the sport. Guys who have no interest in a particular sport, yet they are playing it, will not achieve success in it. Love for the sport helps a sportsman achieve a lot.
We also had Mr. K.S. Mohammed Nizamuddin (1991 Colombo SAF Games Triple Jump Gold medalist), say a few words about his son, Salahuddin:-
“It’s great to see that Salahuddin was selected to represent India in the World University Games, where he’d definitely gain a great experience. This is the fourth international competition he participated in, till date. His performance was quite satisfying in it, but still he would have done better as per my coaching view. He will certainly become an outstanding Triple jumper in the international field in coming years.”
Thank you Mr. Salahuddin, for giving his precious time for the interview session. We hope he wins many medals for India in future and make our country proud. We would like to see more Salahuddins emerging and making our country proud in Athletics. All the best for his future.
