"Missing out on Paris Olympics was heartbreaking" - Asian Games double-medalist Harmilan Bains pours her heart out
Harmilan Bains is one of India's most promising talents in the field of athletics. The star athlete has brought the nation plenty of glory on some of the biggest sporting stages. At the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, Harmilan bagged two silver medals in the women's 800m and 1500m races.
In February this year, she went on to clinch the gold at 2024 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in Tehran. However, just when she was on course to make a dream Olympic debut at Paris Olympics 2024, an unfortunate injury halted her journey.
Harmilan Bains was in a conversation with Sportskeeda on the sidelines of the U-17 Subroto Cup final in Delhi. Here are the excerpts:
Q. How did you fall in love with sports and where did the journey begin?
A. When I was very little, I remember playing football. It was really something I used to look forward to. A team of all of us kids used to play against a team of the elders. That image is still fresh in my mind. I started my journey in sports from the football ground and fell in love with it from there on.
Q. How did Harmilan Bains then go from football to make a name for herself in athletics?
A. It was once after a football game in a tournament that there was a small race event at the end. That is where I first fell in love with athletics and then my fondness for it never stopped. Ever since then, I have trained to excel in it and there has been no looking back.
Q. How do age-group competitions help an athlete grow into their career and does India need to do more for age-group athletics?
A. It was at the age of 20 that I started getting participating in competitions. I sometimes wish I could have also started at the junior level such as the under 12’s in other countries. When I trained in London, there were so many young athletes there. It’s not as prevalent in India but I do hope age-group athletics grows more here too.
Q. What was the key to success behind your double-medal triumph at the 2022 Asian Games?
A. Before the Asian Games, I participated in numerous competitions in the UK. I competed against the best European athletes. Performing there gave me great confidence leading into the Games. I had this raging belief in myself that I can stand tall against the best in Asia too. I feel that proved instrumental in my double-medal triumph in Hangzhou.
Q. What was the feeling after not making it to the Paris Olympics 2024?
A. At the Asian Indoor Athletic Championships earlier this year, the weather was extremely cold and I developed hamstring issues. All I wanted was to make it to the Olympics. I just had to get 4.14 in three races to qualify. But, my injury kept getting worse and it ended up with me sitting in my bed watching the Games in Paris. It was heartbreaking. However, I know I tried my best to make it.
Q. Will we see you at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics?
A. Absolutely! That will mean so much to me. I will continue chasing my dream. Due to some bad luck and misfortune, I have missed out on both the previous two editions. But I will not stop and will keep going at it will all my heart. With hardwork, I hope India can have yet another athlete in Harmilan Bains, make the nation proud in LA.