Meet Pavana Nagaraj & Sahana Kumari, The Mom-Daughter National Champs

A natural, Olympian and national record-holder Pavana Nagaraj demonstrated that athletic brilliance has been a family trend when she won the women's long jump category at the U20 Asian Athletics Championships in Dubai by taking her parents' guidance.

Pavana Nagaraj, the 18-year-old daughter of 2010 National Inter-State men's 100m champion BG Nagaraj and current women's national high jump record holder Sahana Kumari, won the Asian U20 gold with a personal best long jump of 6.32 meters. After first beginning as a high jumper, Sahana Kumari advised Pavana to focus more on the long jump, and that's how she achieved this accomplishment.

She began training as a long jumper while competing as a heptathlete. Sports Authority of India (SAI) coach Sahana Kumari wanted her daughter to keep competing in multi-event tournaments. 

The Mother-Daughter Bond

When Pavana's mother Sahana Kumari participated in the Inter Railways meet in New Delhi in March 2005, she was one month along with her. Sahana became India's top competitor in the event; she competed in the London Olympics in 2012 and is currently the senior national record holder. Pavana is now trailing in her mother's footsteps. She set a new national record of 1.73 meters when she won a gold medal in the girls' U-16 event in Guwahati in 2021.

Given that Pavana's father, Nagaraj, is a former national champion in the 100 meters, it was likely assumed that she would be an excellent athlete herself. "When she was small, I'd have to take her to my practice sessions and some of my competitions too," Sahana shares with SAI Media. "After I had won a silver at the 2009 Asian Athletics Grand Prix in Bangalore, Pavana ran into the field and began jumping into the landing bed by herself." That's when she initially declared her desire to compete in high jumping as well," remembers Sahana.

"My father and mother have both received medals from events in India and Asia, and they are all displayed at our home. "I always have this feeling that I should at least take home the same medals," explains Pavana. Maybe even more than the same medals. "Pavana is continuously reminded by my spouse that she needs to challenge herself. He continues telling her that she needs to perform even better because we already have an Olympian in the family, Sahana believes.

According to Pavana, her mother has supported her professionally. Her mother has always supported her and goes with her to competitions. Her presence and encouragement have helped her go this far. She considers herself truly fortunate because she does not believe most athletes experience this.

Pavana Nagaraj has been a Khelo India Scholarship scheme athlete since 2018.

Pavana says she intends to push for the U-18 mark and eventually the junior record in the upcoming years. She now holds the national records for U-14 and U-16. She faces additional pressure because she is the daughter of a very successful athlete.