Carrying the National Flag was awesome...

I did not even know about what it takes to earn a national record. It was when I was only 15-year-old that I participated in the World School Games. Just after few days of my performance at France, my pictures were there in the newspapers and my school principal called up and congratulated me saying that he just saw my performance on Star News. It felt great to get the fame and recognition at such a young age. After excelling in the local and national events, I got a chance to represent India at the World School Games at France and got the honour to hold the national flag for India and that''s my ''BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT'' and ''MOST MEMORABLE'' moment of my sports career. I still get goose bumps when I think about it.

I also made 18 national records and was a university gold medalist five times in a row, which no other athlete has achieved till now. It’s a record in itself. Next year the whole season I fell ill and suffered from jaundice. It took me a very long time to recover. With just three months of practice I still made it to All India University Nationals, which was my last year for University Games where on my last throw, I jumped from fourth position to a national gold. I may have taken a long break because I was working with CWG Committee, but I still haven''t quit and looking forward to take part in SAF Games next year in India.


Monica Joon.
International discus thrower,
School: Gyan Bharti School
Grad: Lady Sri Ram and
PG: Jamia Milia Islamia