Kampar, Malaysia, July 13, 2024: She is a trailblazer having achieved many firsts in her career as a triathlete. Now Pooja Chaurushi has set her eyes on a loftier target – to pave the way for the first Indian to compete at the Olympic Games in triathlon.
“We have never achieved this goal. My hope is that soon, one day, we will have an Indian man or woman taking part in the Olympics in this sport which I love,” says Pooja who is playing a double role at the OCA World Triathlon/Asian Triathlon Youth Development Camp in Kampar. She is part of the five-member coaching team from the world and Asian governing bodies overseeing the progress of 73 athletes and coaches from 25 Asian National Olympic Committees.
“We are looking at Los Angeles in 2028, and failing that Brisbane 2032. Indian sport is on a high right now with many gold medal successes at the Olympic level. It would be brilliant if triathlon is also in the picture,” Pooja points out.
Back home she is known as the ‘Golden Girl of Gujarat’. Her achievements are many, having won 230 medals in her career. She was the first Indian to win an international triathlon event, and was crowned South Asian champion four times.
Pooja also represented India at the Asian Games – Guangzhou 2010 where she finished 10th, the best-ever finish by an Indian in triathlon. Then there were just a handful of athletes in the sport. Today there are more than 1,000.
“The awareness of triathlon has increased compared to the time when I was competing when there were just 20 girls,” says Pooja.
Today, she is the only Indian who is a World Triathlon certified Level 2 coach. On her shoulders lie the hopes of triathlon in India.
“My days as an athlete are over, but my dream continues, to see an Indian at the Olympics. Events like this camp are a massive help to countries like ours. It’s huge for our kids to be able to rub shoulders with children from the more established nations in triathlon like Japan, China, Korea, Hong Kong and Kazakhstan,” Pooja says.
“It is a big learning curve for them, and the exposure and experience they gain is invaluable. We are thankful to the Olympic Council of Asia and the Malaysian Triathlon Association for giving us this opportunity. This is the first and massive step for us,” she added.
