PANJIM: Don’t be deceived by her looks. Her baby faced demeanour masks her iron determination to do well. Janiva Fernandes won a bronze in wushu to boost the medals tally of the State. All of 14, she has her parent’s strong backing to boost her. Expressing her happiness at winning a bronze medal, she said it has been quite a journey having started in the sport eight years ago.
Janiva’s interest in the sport was encouraged by her parents, her father who is the general secretary of the State association and mother who was a judge. No success is achieved without hard work. In the run up to the National Games, camps were organised to ensure the training took place in a structured manner.
Practice would commence at 6 o’clock in the morning till 12 o’clock. She would however leave for school at 10.30 because exams were being conducted. Practice was always morning and evening. Asked what her plans were, she said she would like to participate in more National Games, win more medals for Goa, make Goa proud and eventually become a coach in the sport. On any plans of going to the Olympics, she said she would first have to win a gold medal and be selected for training by SAI and practice very hard and then go to the Asian Games.
On the difference between a bronze medal winner and a gold medallist, she said it was about practice and experience which was gained over the years. She said she would have to work on her stamina and flexibility to gain more success in her sport in the future.
