On return, run of felicitations awaits golden girl Ashwini Chidananda Akkunji

Hardly anyone has received such a rousing welcome in recent years in the state’s coastal region as Ashwini Chidananda Akkunji did as she reached Kinnimulky in Udupi district on Tuesday.

Fresh from her double gold haul at the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, Ashwini was greeted by a huge crowd who had assembled to wish her. She was received by elders of the town in Udupi including MLA Raghupathy Bhat, deputy commissioner Hemalatha and social leaders.

The athlete was taken in a procession in a decorated open jeep. Ashwini’s flight from Mumbai reached Bajpe airport two hours late, but the enthusiastic crowd, along with members of the Dakshina Kannada Athletic Association and her parents and relatives, waited patiently for their star to arrive.

Speaking to DNA, Ashwini said she was raring to go in the Olympics.

“After three medals in a row at Commonwealth and Asian Games, I am confident of doing well there too. I am eager to start training with my Russian coach Yuri Vogordonik in Delhi for a few months. I may even visit Russia for training,” she said.

Earlier, officials of the Athletic Federation of India received Ashwini in Delhi in the morning. She was assured of adequate training for her events that included 400 metres hurdles relay and race.

“My coach has already told me that I should return to training as early as possible to keep improving the timings. I hear athletes all around the world have gone back from Asiad and Commonwealth Games and have already started training for the Olympics. I am also eager to get back to training,” she said.

The golden girl said that coming back to her village always brought her childhood memories back.

“The barefoot running, herding cows, helping mom in cleaning the yard and playing with my friends… If I could, I would like to make that mad rush towards my school again,” she said with a giggle.
Meanwhile, the Bunt community from across the country is planning to fete Ashwini for her achievements.

“She has delighted the hearts of Bunt youth and elderly alike and soon the entire community will come together to felicitate her. The Delhi Bunt Sangha has already announced a cash prize of Rs1 lakh and the largest Bunt community in Mumbai and Maharashtra was also waiting to get a date from Ashwini. But we felt that her hometown Siddapura should have the first chance,” said Chidananda Shetty Akkunji, Ashwini’s father.

The administrator of the Dakshina Kannada Buntara Yaane Nadavara Sangha, Sachidananda Hegde, said that Ashwini’s parents, Chidananda and Yashoda, have told them to organise one programme on behalf of the Bunt community of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi to save her time.