‘No one will marry her’: Baranica Elangovan defies village taunts to make pole vault history at Asian Games

Baranica Elangovan poses after winning the bronze medal in the women’s pole vault. (PTI Photo) NEW DELHI: For Baranica Elangovan, the bronze medal at the Nagoya Asian Games was about much more than clearing the bar at 4.15m. It was a moment of vindication after years of injuries, doubts and questions about whether a woman from her village should even be taking up a sport considered risky.When the 24-year-old Indian girl took up the pole vault, those around her questioned the decision and warned her parents that the injury could affect her future.“I’m from a village. When I started, in 2019 I had ACL surgery after an injury in vaulting. At the time, everyone was saying to my parents, ‘Why let a girl do pole vaulting? The event is quite risky. If something happens to her, no one will marry her.’ They were talking behind our backs,” Elangovan told IANS after winning the bronze.But her parents refused to listen.“But my mom and dad believed in me. They spoke clearly with the coach, and my coach believed in my talent. He told them, ‘She’s going to be able to do more than you think. She’s definitely going to shine in the sport.’ They believed him and I want to thank them too because they didn’t listen to others; they believed in me,” she said.Asian Games full coverage | Medal Tally | Schedule

From ACL surgery to Asian Games history

Elangovan’s path to the podium was hardly conventional. After moving from Mayiladuthurai to Chennai for college, she initially dabbled in the long jump and triple jump before unexpectedly finding her way into the pole vault.“I was a part of the triple jump. I was looking for a coach for the triple jump, but unexpectedly because of the event, I got a coach for the pole vault. After watching the event, I was really excited and want to try. So I joined the pole vault. After joining the sport, I started following the routines and everything,” she said.Five years after his ACL surgery, Elangovan cleared 4.15m in Nagoya to become the first Indian to win an Asian Games pole vault medal. She ended in a tie with Kazakhstan’s Polina Ivanova, the bronze was ultimately decided by count-out after both athletes failed at 4.25m.Even then, Elangovan did not immediately realize that she had made history.“I didn’t believe I was going to win a medal. My colleague came and said, ‘You were on the bronze, you won it.’ Another athlete shared the bronze, a Kazakh athlete. My colleague told me that I was tied for third place for the bronze medal. I only found out afterwards. I was aiming for a PB (Personal Best) but I actually got a medal.During the competition, she focused on the performance rather than the stage.“I wasn’t really aiming for a medal. I was aiming for performance. I just wanted to hit my PB (Personal Best) today. That’s the only thing on my mind: run. Gotta do it. Gotta do it. Gotta do it. I was really aggressive with the pole and the run…,” she said.

‘This is for you Anna’

Elangovan also praised the Athletics Federation of India for ensuring that her pole arrived in Japan and organizing a preparation camp to help her adapt to the conditions.“This time our Athletics Federation of India tried every possible way with every airline to take the batons from us and it was really possible. I would also like to thank the Athletics Federation of India. It was only because of them that I could win this medal,” she said.“There was a preparation camp at Sugupa University a week before the Asian Games, which helped me adjust to the environment, timing, food and recovery. They took care of everything for us and it was really nice,” she added.After overcoming the doubts that accompanied her journey, Elangovan knew exactly who she wanted to dedicate the medal to.“I dedicate this to my trainer Milber Bertrand Russell.“This is for you, Anna,” she said as she presented the medal to Russell.And she hopes her medal will change the perception of an event she once entered almost by accident.“Definitely! When I started, there were only five to six competitors. Now you can see around 15 competitors and many more young athletes doing it in the under-20 category. I can see it and India will definitely be able to see a change in the history of pole vaulting, with performance as well,” she said.