Your level of success is determined by your level of discipline and perseverance; and for the 23-year-old Kanika Bhalla, the key to her success has been years of consistent hard work and dedication.
She is a Gold Medalist in Dentistry and is currently pursuing her Masters from the prestigious Rutgers University, New Jersey. What makes her exceptional is that she is a national level Speed Skating champion, having represented India at the World Championships, Asian Championships (won 6 medals) and Asian Games. Asian Voice spoke to Kanika at the Anand Mela, where she was helping out her father at his stall.
She is humble and unassuming, the qualities that clearly mark her out as a leader. Talking about her journey, she spoke about the importance of starting young. “ I started speed skating at the tender age of five years and played my first National Championship in the Under-6 category. I have played 15 National Championships since then.”
Discipline, she said was key. “After coming home from school and later from college, I would quickly finish my homework and other academic, to take out enough hours for my training in the evening.”
“I feel, being in sports helped my concentration and helped me excel in studies. I always knew that I had limited time to study so I never wasted time watching television or going out with friends or partying. I found my interest and happiness in skating and studies, and preferred staying focussed on them.”
Speed skating is a relatively new sport in India, and because of the expenses, continues to be exclusive too; but the sports is gaining popularity and the infrastructure is improving too.
“The equipment (boots, frame, wheels, bearings) cost quite a lot, but the sports has gained popularity in the past few years. New skating tracks of international standards have been built in various cities of India. International players and coaches have been invited to India to coach, as a result, the performance of Indian skaters have been improving at the international championships.”
However Kanika feels that the media should do a lot more to give the sport the limelight it deserves. “Unlike other sports in India like cricket or badminton, speed skating has very little or almost negligible media coverage. People outside the skating fraternity do not know much about this sport.”
As she continues with her studies in the US, she dreams about an India that will produce world-class skaters who will win at international championships. Even if you are not able to win, every person should play some sports or the other. “It helps inculcate discipline and determination in one's life. But every sport requires hard work and every sports person is going to lose at some point or the other. Not giving up, and moving ahead is what being an athlete is all about,” said Kanika matter-of-factly.
She wants to go back to India and help her father in his Dental business at the Bhalla's Dental Clinic in Ahmedabad. What drives this young achiever? Her answer is: In order to achieve something you never have, do something you have never done. High achievers spot rich opportunities swiftly, make big decisions quickly and move into action immediately and by following these principles you can make your dreams come true.
