Paris Olympics Debutants Paramjeet Singh Bisht, Suraj Panwar Make Uttarakhand New Hub of Race Walking in India

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The local environment has been instrumental in shaping the remarkable journey of two race walkers making their Olympic debut at the Paris Olympics 2024.

Hailing from the hilly region of Uttarakhand in Northern India, Paramjeet Singh Bisht and Suraj Panwar are among the four-member national men's race walking team at these Games. The athletics events begin on August 1.

The gruelling 20km race walking event has long been dominated by men from the Services, but Bisht and Panwar, both in their early 20s, are set to challenge this tradition. While Bisht will compete in the men's individual 20km race walk, Panwar will participate in the marathon race walk mixed relay team.

Young race walkers from Uttarakhand have shown their potential on the international stage early in their careers. Bisht has won several medals in age-group competitions and has competed at the continental level, while Panwar won silver in the 5,000m race walk at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games.

During his formative years, Panwar spent hours playing in the fresh air on the outskirts of Rajaji National Park, near his village outside Dehradun. "We created a small playground close to the jungle," Panwar fondly recalls. "It was fun playing and kicking a football around."

Panwar experimented with other sports, including football, before becoming fascinated by race walking. "Race walking was the best option available as there weren't good facilities for other sports," he said, adding that race walking is challenging and requires mastering a difficult technique.

Bisht was born and raised in Chamoli district, near Gopeshwar, in Uttarakhand, where the altitude ranges from 1,500m and above. "We often walked a couple of miles from the village to school every day," Bisht said. "The weather is pleasant throughout the year and ideal for long-distance running."

Both athletes began race walking during their school days, as their areas lacked the facilities to pursue other sports. Panwar and Bisht were also inspired by the achievements of Uttarakhand's international race walker and Olympian, Manish Singh Rawat, who finished an impressive 13th in the men's 20km race walk at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

Rawat, who also hails from Chamoli district and works with the state police department, began race walking during his school days due to the lack of proper sports facilities in the region. "We practised on the road as there were no proper playgrounds in our area in the early 2000s," Rawat recalled.

Rawat believes that the performances of Bisht and Panwar at the Olympic Games will further boost the confidence of the next generation of athletes in the state. "Several young athletes in Uttarakhand are pursuing race walking and have won medals in age-group categories at the national level," Rawat added. "Young athletes from the state will certainly look forward to following in the footsteps of Bisht and Panwar."

In fact, a local physical education teacher, Gopal Bisht, in Chamoli district, has been guiding youngsters in the region. He was a mentor to both Rawat and Bisht in their formative years.

Gurdev Singh, a former national race walking coach, also acknowledges Uttarakhand's potential in race walking. "The local environment undoubtedly plays a vital role in shaping the destiny of young athletes, but a good coaching system is equally important as race walking is a technical event," Singh said.

Several young athletes from Punjab and Haryana have excelled in race walking after joining the Services in the past, Singh noted, but there has been a power shift since the gruelling event was introduced at the All India Inter University level in the early 2000s. There is also a separate race walking event at the national level. "The Inter University competition has proved to be a good platform for honing the skills of potential race walkers in the country," Singh added.

As Bisht and Panwar step onto the Olympic stage, their journey is a reminder that success often emerges from unexpected places. The mountains of Uttarakhand, with their rugged terrain and limited facilities, have not only shaped these athletes but have also redefined the future of race walking in India. Their participation at the Paris Games is not just a personal milestone, but a signal that new centres of excellence are quietly emerging, ready to challenge the old guard.