Meet Mubssina Mohammed, first athlete from Lakshadweep to win international medal for India

On Thursday, she finished second to win Silver, behind Uzbekistan’s Sharifa Davronova (6.06m), and ahead of Hong Kong’s Wai Yin Jia (5.81m).

‘Feels great to wear Indian jersey’

“I am delighted. I never expected that I would win a medal here,” Mohammed told South First in an exclusive interview from Kuwait. On Friday, she went on to further represent the country in a heptathlon event.

Mubssina Mohammed with the winners and organisers at the Kuwait event. (Supplied)

She said she was not afraid of her opponents and had the confidence to compete on the international stage.

“I was first till my fourth jump, but she [Davronova]  scored more than me in the fifth. I couldn’t recover,” said Mohammed of her silver win.

She lauded her coach Ahmed Jawad Hassan for her achievements. She said it was all because of him that she could be a part of the sport and reach new heights.

“If Jawad sir wasn’t there, this would have never happened. My actual event was the 600m race. The coach asked me to try long jump, and as I did well, we changed the focus to long jump.”

She said it was a great feeling to wear the Indian jersey, and was proud to represent the country.

“Mubbasina is the pride of Lakshadweep. I personally look at her with amazement and wonder as she chose sports in Lakshadweep and worked hard for it. She chased her passion and showcased to the world that we, too, can do it,” Aisha Sulthana, a filmmaker from Lakshadweep, told South First.

From Minicoy to Kuwait

Mohammed hails from Minicoy, and as her coach is in Kavaratti, she transferred her schooling to Kavaratti.

She had to face various challenges in her journey from Minicoy to clinching silver in the International event in Kuwait.

Mubbsina Mohammed receiving Silver Medial at the 4th Asian U18 Athletics Championships held in Kuwait. (Supplied)

Lakshadweep does not have a synthetic track for her practice, which demands she has to travel to Ernakulam in Kerala before every event.

“In Lakshadweep, I practise in my school ground’s mud track. Two weeks before every major event, I come to Ernakulam and practise on the synthetic track of Maharajas College.”

Sulthana, who has faced similar odds in her journey to be the first female filmmaker from Lakshadweep, said: “As a person from Lakshadweep, I have seen a lot of talented kids, but they are not becoming successful because their families object to it. I have seen their parents clipping their wings at an early age.”

Sulthana, who has a close association with Mohammed’s family, said unlike most parents the athlete’s mother supports her a lot and is enthusiastic about sports. Sulthana recounted a conversation with the parent.

“As a child, I really wanted to be a sports person. But my family stopped me from pursuing my passion. I am happy that I have a girl child. I want to help her reach wherever she desires to reach,” Sulthana quoted Mohammed’s mother as saying.

“Perhaps if the mothers in Lakshadweep make an effort like her, Lakshadweep will see many historic developments soon,” said Sulthana.