Bereft of Sponsors, India's Fastest 400m Runner Kiran Pahal Faces Challenging 2025 Season in Post Paris Olympics Blues

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Nearly four months after the Paris Olympic Games, India's top female 400m runner of 2024, Kiran Pahal, reflects on personal challenges and a lack of sponsorship as she prepares for an exciting yet demanding 2025 season, featuring the Asian and World Championships.

The 24-year-old Olympian from Rohtak, Haryana, made headlines last June with a stunning 50.92-second finish to claim gold at the National Olympic Games qualifying event in Panchkula. This remarkable achievement earned her an individual ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

"I underwent dope tests after both the preliminary round and the final in Panchkula," Kiran shared, addressing critics who doubted her credentials.

However, on her Olympic debut in Paris, Kiran struggled to replicate her personal best, citing nerves and the overwhelming atmosphere. "The massive crowd cheering for the athletes was overwhelming. I was a bit nervous during the race and couldn't perform as expected," she explained.

Kiran joined Indian Railways through a sports quota in 2021 as a clerical staff. Despite her stellar 2024 performance, she lamented the lack of financial backing to further her aspirations. "Training to excel at the international level is expensive and requires sustained efforts over time. A good diet is crucial for recovery after intense practice, and access to a physio is essential for rehabilitation post-injury," she said.

In a system that often rewards only winners, Kiran's inconsistent performance may have contributed to limited interest from sponsors. The only significant support came in the form of a two-and-a-half-year deal with a leading sports apparel brand, providing her with running gear, including track shoes. "At least one company stepped forward to support me with sports apparel," she said, acknowledging the modest assistance.

Kiran was included in the Ministry of Sports' Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), receiving ₹50,000 for two months leading up to the Olympics. Additionally, the Haryana government awarded her ₹15 lakh. "I saved some money for the future and used part of it to repay a bank loan," she disclosed.

Looking ahead, Kiran is determined to focus on individual 400m events rather than relay races. Preferring to train with her personal coach in Haryana, she declined to join an elite group of 400m runners training in Kerala. "The limited facilities in Rohtak motivate me to work harder and improve," she said.

Currently recovering from a back injury sustained post-Olympics, Kiran remains optimistic. "I'm 90% healed and will resume normal training once I'm fully recovered," she revealed.

Kiran is under NADA's Registered Testing Pool but has not faced out-of-competition testing yet. "I've provided my whereabouts for the testing window," she confirmed.

Despite the challenges, Kiran Pahal is resolute in her quest to make 2025 a year of breakthroughs, determined to prove herself on the global stage.