Sports
Teen Long Jumper Shahnavaz Khan Draws Strength from Late Father’s Memory and Mentor’s Support to Win Career-Defining Medal
By Neelesh Pandey - 13 Aug 2025 04:14 PM
At just 18, long jumper Shahnavaz Khan achieved a milestone that will stay with him for life — a major medal that marks the high point of his young career so far. But behind the leap was more than just athletic training. It was the quiet strength drawn from the memory of his late father, and the steady support of a senior athlete who guided him through moments of self-doubt.
Shahnavaz lost his father when he was a child, but he remembers the quiet encouragement and love that pushed him to keep chasing his dreams. “He never saw me jump, but I still feel him with me every time I step onto the track,” Shahnavaz shared, his voice steady.
His breakthrough was not achieved alone. A seasoned long jumper from his training camp took him under his wing, offering advice and reassurance in the weeks leading up to the competition. “There were days I thought I wasn’t good enough. He kept reminding me why I started,” Shahnavaz said.
Now, with a major medal in hand, Shahnavaz stands at the beginning of what could be a promising journey. But more than the win, it's the personal bonds — the memory of a father, and the presence of a mentor — that ground his feet and push him forward.
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