Harmilan Bains has faced her share of challenges. Despite an undefeated streak in individual races throughout 2021, she underwent knee surgery that sidelined her for 10 months. On her return, she secured silver medals in the women’s 800m and 1500m events.
A former national record holder in the women’s 1500m, Bains opened up about the emotional struggles she faced after failing to qualify for the Olympics, including a battle with depression and thoughts of suicide. She shared a powerful message aimed at young athletes in the country, urging them to enjoy their sport without undue pressure.
“My advice is to enjoy your sport and not get too stressed, like I did after missing out on the Olympics. I nearly fell into depression and had dark thoughts, like giving up everything and running away from it all. To parents, I say, let your children follow their passions. And to young people, remember it’s never too late to switch your sport or profession—just find joy in what you do,” Bains expressed.
Bains was the guest of honor at the final match of the 63rd Subroto Cup Junior Boys tournament at the Dr. Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi, where she praised the tournament’s role in nurturing young football talent.
“I am grateful to the Air Force for this opportunity. It’s wonderful to see young athletes get such a platform to showcase their skills,” she added.
In a thrilling conclusion, Manipur’s T.G English School won the 63rd Subroto Cup, defeating Meghalaya’s Myngken Christian Higher Secondary School 4-3 in a sudden death tie-breaker after the teams were tied 1-1 in regular time.
Bains also commented on the outstanding performance of the Indian contingent at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, where India surpassed its previous record of 19 medals from the Tokyo Paralympics, earning 29 medals and finishing 18th in the medal tally.
“I am overjoyed for our para-athletes. It’s a historic achievement for India to rank so high in the medal standings,” Bains concluded.
