Three ankle surgeries in three years. And told at one point to quit running. For most athletes, that would have marked the end of the road. For quartermiler (400m) Barath Sridhar, it was the start of a second innings.
The 22-year-old from Tamil Nadu continues to battle adversity, fuelled by the same grit that made him one of India’s brightest junior prospects. He first caught the spotlight when he won medals at the successive World U-20 Championships in 2021 and 2022. Then came an abrupt halt in 2023. He was out of competitive action for nearly three years. After making his comeback this season and going on to clock a personal best mark of 46.43 seconds, Barath earned a place in the Indian team for the Asian Relays Championships that will take place this weekend in China. The meet, says Barath, is an opportunity to prove himself on the big stage after a long absence.
“I had an ankle issue in my left leg during the World U-20 Championships days, which led to problems with my hamstring and lower abdomen. There was an extra bone growth in my ankle, and doctors advised me to have it removed. So, even after being selected for the Asian Championships in 2023, I decided to have the surgery,” says Barath. The problems started a month later. Due to excessive scar tissue formation, his ankle became stiff. Despite rehab, the ankle got worse. “It affected me mentally,” says Barath, who underwent another surgery. His ankle did not heal and he was still not back on track. “A doctor told my coach, Rajmohan, that I cannot continue in athletics because if I put too much stress on the ankle, it could lead to ligament tear. But I refused to lose hope.” With his coach’s support, Barath continued his rehab.
It was then that Barath met long jumper Murali Sreeshankar, who advised him to seek treatment at a hospital in Qatar that had performed surgeries on several Indian athletes. “But by then I had been removed from Target Olympics Podium Scheme because I had not competed for a long period,” says Barath, whose father is a truck driver. “I was part of multiple schemes and had sponsors, but I was no longer part of them and did not have the funds to travel to Qatar. That was when the Mission International Medals Scheme under Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu came to my rescue and helped with my surgery last year.”
Though still not 100% fit, Barath says he has come to terms with the fact that “he will have to run with it”. “Running is my identity. I cannot give up,” says Barath.
Barath's journey is a testament to resilience and determination. Despite the setbacks, he has managed to return to competitive athletics and is now set to represent India at the Asian Relays Championships. His story serves as an inspiration for many young athletes facing similar challenges.
