A New Track. A New Tomorrow For Jaunpur’s Athletes

For years, young athletes trained on dusty grounds, faced long travel for decent practice, and often gave up because opportunities felt too far away. Now, an 8-lane 400-metre World Athletics certified track has been laid at a cost of ₹8.65 crore. The construction is complete. If all goes to plan, athletes will step on it around the New Year. The ripple effect is going to be huge. The district will feel the change everywhere.

It signals that the push for sports is reaching places that were ignored for decades. Over the last eight years, India’s medal numbers have grown on the world stage. Better facilities in smaller cities have played a key role. Jaunpur’s new track stands proudly in the same national direction.

For young athletes, this brings hope in its purest form. They can train at home. They can grow at home. Many who left Jaunpur for training are thinking about returning. Suddenly, the dream does not require a new city. It is alive right where they live.

Among the happiest is Jaunpur’s own star, India’s javelin thrower and 2022 World Championships finalist Rohit Yadav. Speaking to NNIS Sports, his excitement was impossible to miss.

Rohit Yadav’s Voice From The Ground

“Good news. The first synthetic track has been built in our district, and this is something we are truly happy about. The government has constructed the track, and now the athletes from our district will finally be able to practise there. Earlier, we trained on mud tracks, which were quite difficult and very different from running on synthetic. The boys are extremely motivated. The kids from our district are eager to go there and practise, but the facility has not been opened yet. Let’s see when it becomes operational. Once it opens, it will be very beneficial, especially for those who run.

There is also an academy not too far from the track, with many kids from Jaunpur who want to practise there as well, but it hasn’t started functioning yet. Still, it is a great opportunity. Earlier, we didn’t have access to a synthetic track until the state level. We would see a synthetic surface for the first time only when we reached the national level. Now that a rubber track like this has been built in our district, our athletes will benefit tremendously. The players here will no longer feel anything new or unfamiliar when they compete outside. Earlier, we would experience synthetic tracks only at national events, but now it is available right here at the district level. This is a huge advantage and a very positive development for our district.”

When asked about athletes visiting the area, he added:

“Yes, there is a kid from Jaipur who runs an academy. He was our senior. There are a lot of kids from Jaipur there. They went there for training. One day, we will do the throw session there. Maybe it has not opened yet. If will opens, it will be very good. The kids from far away will go there because it is a little far from our place. It is about 45 50 km from our place. And the academy is a little close to their place. Still, we will try to go there sometimes. The other kids from the village will also want to see it. What kind of place is it. How is the synthetics? Many people have not seen it yet. They are just starting. They will have a little experience with this. If they practise, it will be beneficial for them in the future.”

Why Jaunpur’s Track Means More Than Sport:

This track is a shift in mindset. It tells every family that their children do not have to leave home to become athletes. It allows every young runner to see themselves as part of India’s medal story. It changes how a district sees its own future.

If the gates unlock soon, Jaunpur could become the heartbeat of athletics in Purvanchal. And as Rohit said, kids will not be shocked by synthetic surfaces for the first time at nationals. They will grow up with them.

That single upgrade changes everything.