The far-flung and inaccessible Lakshadweep islands haven’t any correct stadium, and track-and-field athletes there run on mud tracks. Regardless of the shortage of infrastructure, 19-year-old Mubassina Mohammed, daughter of a coconut plucker, has change into the primary worldwide athlete from the Union Territory (UT) and is quick rising as a high lengthy jumper within the nation.
Mubassina, who’s representing the nation within the SAAF Senior Championships, has defied all odds, together with monetary hardships and lack of amenities within the tiny UT, which measures round 32-sq-km and has a inhabitants of lower than 70,000.
Mubassina turned Lakshadweep’s first worldwide track-and-field athlete when she competed within the 2022 Asian Beneath-18 Championships in Kuwait, the place she clinched a silver medal every in lengthy leap and heptathlon.
She had received gold within the Nationwide U-23 Championships earlier this month with a leap of 6.36m, although World Athletics has not recognised the mark as a consequence of a scarcity of wind velocity measurement.
Mubassina has additionally performed 6.30m whereas profitable gold within the Nationwide U-20 Championships, which has put her within the high six amongst Indian lengthy jumpers this season. She lately got here beneath the tutelage of the nation’s high horizontal leap coach, Robert Bobby George, who runs an academy in Bengaluru along with his spouse and lengthy leap legend Anju.
“The entire of Lakshadweep has no correct stadium. There is no such thing as a artificial monitor for operating and no 400m monitor. I’m from Minicoy Island which has one 200m mud monitor for operating,” Mubassina informed PTI in an interview.
“If it rains, we won’t run on the mud monitor and do the lengthy leap. Additionally, if folks play soccer, which is the preferred sport in Lakshadweep, in that lone floor, we hardly get house for lengthy leap apply or operating,” stated Mubassina.
Athletics has been within the blood of Mubassina’s household as her father, Mohammed, used to do long-distance operating in his younger age, together with ‘mini marathon’ races organised within the U.T. with prize cash.
“My father is a coconut climber/plucker. Folks name him to pluck coconuts and pay him for the service. He additionally used to run mini-marathon races and get prize cash. Even I ran a 6km race after I was at school V and bought prize cash,” Mubassina stated.
“We have now a small tea stall which my Mom, Dubina Banu, runs to maintain our household.” Mubassina stated.
Mubassina’s childhood coach, Ahmed Jawad Hassan, relies in Lakshadweep’s capital, Kavaratti, however she could not journey as a consequence of a scarcity of transport amenities. So, the household shifted base to Kavaratti for almost two years in order that she might practice beneath Hassan.
“There is just one ferry/shift in a day to go to Kavaratti. So, you’ll be able to’t go there and return the identical day. However I must do coaching. So, my dad and mom determined that every one of us will shift to Kavaratti for 2 years.” Mubassina stated.
“My sister and two youthful twin brothers took faculty admission there, and I additionally did my class XI and XII in Kavaratti.” Mubassina stated. After that, Mubassina shifted to Kerala and skilled on the Nationwide Centre of Excellence in Thiruvananthapuram for one-and-a-half years, earlier than becoming a member of the Anju Bobby George Basis.
Beneath Hassan, she competed within the heptathlon and lengthy leap. However this 12 months, she is focusing solely on the lengthy leap. In between, she went to Kerala to check and practice however quickly got here again as she couldn’t alter to the meals and situations there.
Becoming a member of horizontal leap specialist coach Robert Bobby George — Robert got here to know of Mubassina’s expertise by way of some pals in Lakshadweep. The UT administration additionally contacted him and really helpful her title. Robert informed her to hitch his academy two years again, however she was hesitant as she was younger and cautious of staying away from residence.
“She known as me in the future from Trivandrum that she’s the lone woman within the jumps group there. We have now the most effective feminine group with us proper now. So the concept was to introduce her to the most effective teaching methodologies at an early stage of her profession.” Robert stated.
“I informed her, okay, six months later, there will likely be an statement camp. It is not solely the motor qualities, we’ve got to additionally test the perspective of an athlete whether or not she’s prepared for long-term enterprise,” stated Robert.
“We have now sure parameters, one is bodily traits, the second is the perspective. We measure each.” Robert got here to know of her for the primary time in Bhopal within the Nationwide U-18 championships.
“We have now began investigations on her, like biochemistry take a look at, bio-mechanical evaluation, and different lab checks one after the other. The following two years will likely be a problem for her. As soon as it is stabilised and he or she is 19-years-old or so, will probably be okay for her.” Robert additionally plans to journey to Lakshadweep in December to fulfill Mubassina’s dad and mom and have a first-hand understanding of the situations she grew up in.
“From such a small island, anyone is coming to the worldwide stage. So I am blissful that I have been instrumental in supporting her,” Robert added.
Revealed – October 27, 2025 02:36 pm IST