Page 62 - CIJ Sept 2025- Digital Edition

DIFFERENT STROKES

Running into Clean Lessons Women, Then
History Abroad and Now

Born in Mangaluru at a time What strikes most about Europe Coming from a conservative
when girls were expected to stay is hygiene. “Most countries charge background, Vandana’s journey
home and marry young, Vandana you for toilet use and that money itself was a rebellion. “Most girls
had to fight for every lap she ran. goes into keeping the facilities were married by 16 or 17. For
Teachers had to persuade her spotless. Even in places where me to travel across the world was
father to let her compete. “In our toilets are free, like France or unthinkable. But sport opened the
family, girls did not play sport, Italy, they are always clean,” she doors.” She sees today’s women
forget travelling for competitions. observes. The comparison with athletes as beneficiaries of those
It took a lot of convincing,” she India is inevitable. early battles. “Girls are more
recalls. That conviction changed Back home, she admits, there has hardworking than men and now
history: by 1984, she was at the been progress. “When we trained they have role models in every
Los Angeles Olympics, part of and travelled for school games, sport. That inspires me.”
India’s first-ever women’s 4x400m washrooms were a nightmare.
relay squad to qualify for an Today, if you travel by bus from Passing the Baton
Olympic final. Bengaluru to Mangaluru, there are Her life is shared with
Stepping into the Olympic stops with fairly clean toilets and another Olympian — hockey
Village was overwhelming. “I they charge just Rs. 7 or 10. That is player Joaquim Carvalho —
little compared to Europe, but the
was just awestruck, coming from quality has improved so much.” and together they raised a son
a small village and suddenly through the challenges of two
surrounded by American and For her, hygiene is not an demanding careers. She remains
Nigerian athletes with their isolated subject but a way of life. a strong advocate for children
taking up sport. “It keeps them
glamour and make-up. For us, it “Europeans do not litter, they disciplined, focused and away
was pure joy to run,” she smiles. do not spit and they protect their from distractions. Even when my
Their timing of 3 minutes 32.49 environment. Young travellers son was preparing for exams, I
seconds was an Asian best, a in my groups often come back insisted he play an hour a day. My
record that stood for two decades. impressed by these habits —
punctuality, politeness, saying neighbours thought I was crazy.
From Track to ‘please’ and ‘thank you’. We have But that is how sport shapes you”
said the recipient of the prestigious
Tour Bus improved in India too, but we must Arjuna award from Union Sports
build it deeper into our culture.”
Life after athletics took her Ministry in 1987.
first to banking, where she spent Memories, Then
26 years with Corporation Bank and Now A Clean Finish
and then, with a restless spirit Travel often reconnects her From the roar of stadiums to the
seeking something new, into with her past. “Every time I go to hum of tourist buses, Vandana Rao
tourism. A weekend course in Rome, I look for the hotel where has travelled far. Yet one thread
tour management changed her I had stayed as an athlete in 1987 runs through all her journeys —
path yet again. “Sport teaches for the World Championships. discipline, dignity and cleanliness,
you to adapt, to read situations Cities change, places change, but whether on the track, in her
quickly. When I lead tourists memories do not.” personal conduct, or in the streets
across Europe, differences of Europe the Tour Manager with
arise. The challenge is to make From that first synthetic track SAS Global Reisen now navigates
everyone feel like one big family. she ran on at the national camp in with groups of Indians in tow.
That is my relay team now,” she Bengaluru to today’s international “We were clean athletes,” she
laughs. stadiums, Vandana has witnessed says with quiet pride, recalling her
how India’s sports infrastructure
Her itinerary often stretches has evolved. She celebrates Neeraj Olympic days. “We ran because
from London through France, Chopra’s Olympic triumphs we loved it” said this athlete whose
Switzerland, Austria, Germany with the pride of someone who second consecutive Olympics
and Italy. She coordinates meals, knows the sacrifices behind the appearance came at Seoul in 1988.
sightseeing and logistics with the medals. “He is simple, focussed, And she continues to carry that
precision of an athlete counting hardworking. That is the spirit same clean spirit, one tour, one
every stride. sport should always carry.” story and one memory at a time.

62 SEPTEMBER 2025 • Clean India Journal • www.cleanindiajournal.com