Standing tall at over 6’5’’, wearing a turban, Samardeep Singh Gill might easily be mistaken for an average athlete from Patiala or Jalandhar in Punjab. However, the reigning South Asian Athletics Champion can stump you with ‘ manne avde chhe ’ (I know how to speak) in chaste Gujarati. The reason is that this 24-year-old shot putter was born in Valsad, Gujarat. His father, Mahender Singh Gill, who is a senior Bridge Railways Inspector, has spent several years in Gujarat. Now, the throw champion is honing his skills at the MP Academy in Bhopal.

“You can call me an Indian in all essence. Born in Gujarat, now training in Madhya Pradesh,” says Samardeep, who is equally articulate in English.

Late bloomer

He is a late bloomer in track and field. His initial foray into sports was cricket. A

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