Young athlete Mohit Mangat charts path to national glory
Mohit Mangat from Ludhiana, an emerging athlete, has been making waves recently and is poised to carve a niche for himself at the national level. Coming from a non-sporting background, Mohit took up athletics in 2023 and, in a short span of time, has proven his credentials at the state championships.
After completing his schooling from the local Police DAV Public School, Mohit (19) is now pursuing BA-II at Guru Hargobind Khalsa College, Gurusar Sadhar. He joined the Ludhiana Athletics Coaching Centre at Guru Nanak Stadium under the supervision of district coach Sanjeev Sharma and tasted success almost instantly.
Mohit earned his first medal—a bronze—in the Punjab State School Games, held at War Heroes Stadium, Sangrur, where he stood on the podium in the 1,500m race. This was followed by a silver medal in the 800m race at the 99th Open Punjab U-23 Athletics Meet, also held in Sangrur. He clinched a gold medal in the 800m race at the Open District Junior Athletics Championship in Ludhiana.
In the third edition of Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan, where Mohit competed against some of the state’s more seasoned athletes, he made his mark by winning a bronze medal in the 800m race in the boys’ U-21 category.
Mohit delivered an even more impressive performance at the state championship held in Ludhiana, where he bagged two medals. In the U-20 section, he won a silver medal in the 1,500m race and a gold medal in the 800m race.
He is currently preparing for the Junior National Athletics Championship, scheduled to be held in October and the All India Inter-Universities Athletics Tournament, slated for December. Mohit follows a rigorous training schedule—three hours each in the morning and evening.
Speaking to The Tribune, Mohit said, “My aim and dream is to represent Punjab and India in national and international-level tournaments and make my coach and parents proud. Sanjeev sir is an exceptional mentor who is knowledgeable and supportive, under whose guidance I have picked up quickly. I aspire to excel and bring laurels to my state and the country.”
Financial support from Bhaini Sahib Sports Academy
The initiative by the Sports Academy at Sri Bhaini Sahib to support Mohit with a monthly scholarship of Rs 5,000 is a commendable step towards nurturing his athletic talent. The financial support allows him to focus solely on training and athletic development without being burdened by monetary constraints.
Expressing gratitude towards Satguru Uday Singh, head of the Namdhari community, Bhaini Sahib, for the assistance, both coach Sanjeev Sharma and Mohit said this may enable access to better coaching, further enhancing his skills. It was, they noted, encouraging to see an organisation backing young talent.
Coach’s commendation fuels Mohit’s determination
Coach Sanjeev Sharma, who has successfully mentored several athletes who have gone on to bring glory to the state and the nation, speaks highly of Mohit. “His dedication, discipline and hard work have paid off, leading to significant improvement in just two years. This kind of rapid growth is often a result of having a clear vision of what he wants to achieve, allowing him to stay focused on his training. With continued support and effort, Mohit is likely to achieve even greater success in his athletic career,” the coach opined.
Ludhiana