MAKING OF AN E.A. UNIVERSITIES CHAMPION! Janvi Rajesh Singadia Opens Up on Her Road to sprint Glory – Transcript

00:00Yeah, my name is Peter Kirumba. Yeah, and you guys I'm a few minutes late but don't crucify me guys because I have one of the best hours of the day because today I'm doing something very different.

00:13I'm giving you an absolutely different kind of guest, you know. >> A fast guest. >> And >> >> a very fast one. Literally, you know.

00:26And as I promised you, I have one big professional 100 meter sprinter, East Africa's 100 meter champion and USAU student athlete. Hey, your school is my neighbor, all right. Yeah.

00:43>> Karibu sana. >> Ladies and gentlemen, let's welcome Janvir Rajesh Singadia. >> Singadia. >> Yeah, Singadia. All right. Wait. >> >> We're talking about the making of an East African champion. Now, for the listeners listening for you for the first time or even meeting you, not even you, your voice for the first time. By the way, they'll meet you also because they will see you on air because you're live on YouTube.

01:10>> >> So, who is Janvir Rajesh Singadia and what should they know about your journey to becoming the Omanyala race of >> >> of the universities in Kenya?

01:25>> Um first of all, I'm really grateful to be here. Thank you so much for having me. >> You're welcome. >> Um my name is Janvir Rajesh Singadia. I am the East African Universities 100 meter champion, 200 meter silver medalist, and I think it gives it's all like I'm a professional 100 meter and 200 meter sprinter.

01:48>> Okay. So, Janvir, how did you get into athletics and what what first attracted you to 100 meters? >> Oh. >> How did find yourself there? Running. >> >> I think I found myself there running when I was in nursery. So >> You started that young?

02:04>> Yes. >> Huh? >> I I And that's what I say, like I believe talent Believe talent starts at the youth and then you develop it. >> Mhm. >> Um so I got into athletics when I was in nursery. My parents actually got me into sprinting.

02:24So >> Mhm. >> Yeah. So my parents got me into sprinting. They nurtured my talent. They picked it up when I started running those sports days in in nursery. Like you know you have the sweet races and but I think they saw potential and um they started pushing me every sports day I had when I would go for like my primary school sports day. My mom my dad would um come for my sports days, you know, motivate me and actually boosted my

02:53morale. >> Okay. >> Um I actually had my mom telling me before every race like Junwei run Ju- just run like there's a lion behind you. >> >> You know, so things like that when I was in my youth, but um when I was in grade seven. So basically from grade one to six I would come like first in all my races.

03:16>> Okay. Which school was this? >> Oshwal Academy. >> yeah in Nairobi. >> Yes, in Nairobi. >> Mhm. >> So grade seven, I kind of took a fall when I came third and I was like >> What's happening? >> Junwei, this is not right. What's happening? So I said to myself, I'm going to train.

03:35I'm going to train really hard. >> Mhm. >> So I started training at home just normal jogs and my dad um was supporting me in uh training. He would coach me. And um I think my whole high school life I I would look look at um going forward like athlete of the year.

03:54And so those those are the things that actually put me in in a position where I could um you know go for these go for these competitions and you know it pushed me. Give me a really good push.

04:09So university is now So >> So when you you went to Oshwal for your primary and secondary school? >> Yes, I finished from six. >> Oh, you went for you did the international baccalaureate or something?

04:22>> I I did the A levels of the British British system. So yeah, I've been in Oshwal since nursery primary, junior high and then senior high is what we call it. And >> >> junior high, senior high >> And how long does that take? How many years is that?

04:39>> Um Wow. So I think it should be taking like 16 years. If I'm not wrong, yes. So then then when I got into now grade 12, I told my dad like I want to start sprinting professionally, you know.

04:56Um and that was his main aim. So I I started looking for a coach a very like I think I wasn't getting the right coach at the time. And sprints was very very shallow at the time and you needed to get like the right coach to nurture your talent.

05:16So my dad so we found coach Peter Gatana. >> Peter Gatana >> The Don. >> >> Yeah, so we we met we met him and I started training professionally now under the guidance of him.

05:34And yeah, I think from there just life took its own path. I started running for USIU as soon as I got into the university. Yeah. >> Since day one you went to the USIU and you just took off running.

05:50>> Actually, actually it's it's a very funny story. So, I before I joined the Uni, I was actually looking for the Dean at the time. And I saw the sports coordinator wearing a KRU jersey. So, I was like, "Oh, you know, it's cool. Like, I run for I've been running for Team Kenya Universities."

06:08Uh I will be actually. That time I wasn't running for Team Kenya Universities. So, I'm like, "You know, let me talk to him." So, I told him about my story and um he actually supported me. He's like, "Athlet- They didn't have a lot of athletics going on at that time." Uh this is like uh last year January.

06:26So, he he told me like, "No, we'll get you on board. Like, whatever you need, like, you know, we'll support you." And I think the Uni in itself like has really supported me. Be it, you know, anything anything I need. I think there was a time I was even injured and they they actually had no hesitation giving me rest.

06:47Um yeah. >> Okay, so um Uh considering how rare sprints are in Kenya, what made you choose the sprint, the 100 m? I mean, >> Um so, I am a person who likes doing things differently.

07:05And so is my dad and my mom. So, I think the sprints is something more technical and mechanical. You see, every section of your race >> Matters a lot. >> Yes. And I remember my coach telling me this when I was I think when I was eight 19. He drew me two lines and he told me, "Janvi, from this position is where you can lose where you can make or break your race."

07:33And that's when I knew like this is so technical. So, going back, my dad was an electrical engineer. So, he did he He a background in engineering. So, I love engineering as well. Now, when it came to sprints, I was like, this is so technical, you know, you have you have to maintain a high knee, like 90°, um a certain form, and I think if you were to look at how sprinters accelerate from the beginning, we call it the drive phase.

08:01You would find it really interesting because you have to have like a 45° angle. When you're on the blocks, your hands have to be parallel to the >> There's a lot of detail in it. >> A lot of detail. So, that's one side of it. The other side of it is that sprinting is not so common in Kenya. See, people are people know Kenya by the long-distance runners, the Kipchoges, you know, the >> we're known for. That's what we're really known for.

08:28>> Exactly. So, that I I wanted to change that norm. I'm someone who likes taking bold steps, and I just like changing the norm for the right, you see? >> That's all to do with your parents because you're talking so much about your dad and mom.

08:44I would like to know your parents have played a major role in your journey. What sacrifices have your mom and dad made for you to to help you in your in your career? >> Wow. Yes, that that's that's actually you've you've hit hit it right at the point.

08:58>> The sacrifices they made. >> Um my dad So, my my journey will begin with my dad. So, he actually, when he was young, he he was doing bodybuilding, and he also wanted to do athletics.

09:15So, I remember this time when I was in primary, and he was talking to the sports teacher. He's like, I see my dream in these two. These two meaning like my brother and I. So, he he he never got that opportunity, of course, because of finances and all that, but he made sure he gave my brother and I everything we needed. Like