When Sherin Abdul Gaffoor, a 20-year-old athlete, initially took up long jump, her aspirations were not centered around achieving greatness in the sport. Instead, she aimed to secure medals that would enhance her chances of gaining admission to a medical college through the sports quota. Little did Sherin know that her engagement with athletics would profoundly alter the trajectory of her future, diverting her from the path of becoming a doctor.
In a notable achievement, the Chennai-based jumper clinched the gold at the Under 23 National Championship in Delhi, showcasing a remarkable leap of 6.45m. This achievement placed her ahead of competitors Sandra Babu (6.29m) and Pooja Saini (6.22m).
As Sherin became increasingly engrossed in athletics, she recognized the potential conflict between pursuing a demanding MBBS course and her burgeoning career in sports. Consequently, she persuaded her parents to allow her to transition to engineering.
“While informing my parents, they expressed deep dissatisfaction. After numerous arguments, they reluctantly agreed, albeit with the condition of pursuing at least an engineering degree,” Sherin recounted. However, just one week into her engineering program, Sherin realized that her rigorous college schedule was impeding her training routine.
With a clear set of priorities, Sherin, a diligent student, decided to abandon her engineering course after just one week, opting instead for sociology at M.O.P Vaishnav College in Chennai. Initially resistant, her parents eventually yielded to her fervent desire to focus on her athletic pursuits.
Sherin’s parents had consistently held high expectations for their over-achieving daughter. Before discovering her passion for athletics, she had dabbled in various pursuits at her parents’ insistence, including the piano, drums, violin, guitar, and Bharatnatyam.
Describing long jump as an emotion, Sherin poetically expressed, “When you stand at the start of the runway, it’s like a mental battle between you and the pit. During the jump, I go into a different zone, forgetting about everything around me for a while. The feeling is surreal.”
What initially began as a means to improve her educational prospects evolved into a genuine passion for long jump. Sherin acknowledged her need for improvement and highlighted the absence of a full-time coach as a significant obstacle.
Having trained at an academy run by coach P Nagarajan, Sherin faced additional challenges when he was arrested following sexual harassment allegations by some trainees. Despite these setbacks, Sherin sought guidance from her seniors at the JLN Stadium in Chennai, traveling with friends and fellow trainees Nandhini and Aishwarya to the Delhi meet.
During the competition, Nandhini and Aishwarya provided valuable feedback to Sherin, demonstrating the close-knit bond among the athletes. Sherin, also a talented dancer, was pleased to see coach Bobby George at the meet but felt hesitant to approach him due to his esteemed reputation. Nevertheless, when she learned that Bobby praised her consistency, it brought a bright smile to Sherin’s face.