Sakshi won gold in long jump at the Para  Athletics National Championship in Bhubaneswar last month

The first blind athlete to win a medal for Goa at the Para Athletics National Championship in Bhubaneswar last month a gold in long jump in the T12 blind category with a jump of 4.6m—Sakshi was forced to opt out from her pet event as “it becomes difficult to compete in regular long jump events”.

“At the para nationals, the arrangements are  different. The markings are thicker and in white, here  it’s red. I won’t be able to see the markings when I run  (to take the jump),” she told TOI after the event.
At  he para running events, the blind runners (T11) always have   a guide, but those categorised as T12—who have some sight— can opt to either have a guide or run alone. Sakshi, who has  75% blind disability, ran without a guide, while every other  visually impaired female runner partnered with male guides.  
She picked up a silver medal in the 200m and finished fourth  in 100m, running alone at the nationals.
“I had trained  . so a guide would have been an impediment,” Sakshi said.

Training to run without a guide, despite her blindness, helped Sakshi take part in the state championship last week.The 100m event was relatively easy. “It’s running in a straight line as fast as you can,” she said, after finishing a creditable fifth from among seven finalists.

Sakshi took to athletics only in January after Sudesh Gaude, formerly with the directorate of social welfare, put her in   touch with the Goa Paralympics Association, led by Sudesh  Thakur.
Growing up, Sakshi took an instant liking for  sports. She played football with the boys, even captained  her U-14 school team at MIBK at Khandepar but has now  decided to focus solely on athletics with an aim of making  it big on the international stage.
“We realised about  her blindness only when she was about four years old and  by that time it was too late. Despite the handicap, she handles everything by herself. Sports is now her life and I have no doubt she will go far” said mother Milan.
It’s not been easy for the Class 11 student of  GVM’s SNJA Higher Secondary School in Farmagudi.
It does  not help that she stays in Kumbea Koden in Tisk Usgao, where  buses don’t even ply. She has to walk through the dirt road   covered by bushes on either side, before she can catch a  bus.
That’s only one part of her struggle. Covid-19 has  also dealt a blow. Her father—a driver by profession—works  just twice a week with a local builder, while her mother  lost her job as peon at a school in Ponda.
“We have to  overcome the difficulties,” Sakshi said.
The Ponda sports  complex, where she trains under coach Snehal More, does not  have jump pit, so she has to travel all the way to Bambolim   to practice her jumps with former state champion Devi Gaonkar  keeping a close eye.
“I asked my sister to show me how  to travel to Bambolim by bus on the first day. She came with  me. Since then, I have been travelling alone on three buses  (Usgao-Ponda-Panaji-Bambolim). If you are determined enough you’ll always find your way,” she said.

Her gold at the   para nationals means Sakshi now stands a chance to represent  India in international events. Her father has applied for  a passport. Soon enough, she will have one too.

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/blinded-by-fate-17-year-old-champion-athlete-from-usgao-sets-sights-on-international-stage/articleshow/91242400.cms