Daily Current Affairs

Harmilan Bains, record-breaking queen of the trac

Current GK ( Banking) Sports

Harmilan Bains set the new 1500m national record with a time of 4:05.39 at the 60th National Open Championship 2021 in Warangal.Having crossed the finish line comfortably ahead of her opponents, Harmilan Bains sank to her knees. Recovering from the 1500m run in searing conditions at the National Open athletics championships in Warangal, Harmilan was flanked by cameras and mobile phones. As she stood back up, there was only one thing on her mind: “What was the time? I think it’s a national record,” she asked out loud.
When the official time of 4:05.39 flashed against her name on the electronic screen, she let out a loud ‘oh my god!’. She had broken Sunita Rani's record of 4.06.03 set at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan.On the record, the 23-year-old middle-distance runner says, “I realised it [shot at the NR] in the last 30m. I saw the watch, and I realised I had the chance. For a moment, I thought the watch was slow. I didn’t expect to break the record. Not even my coach and my parents expected it.”
It was sweet redemption for Harmilan, who had to endure the disappointment of missing out on an Olympics berth. She says she has learned from her mistakes.