Parvej Khan: Farmer’s son from Haryana steals the show in US collegiate race
India’s Parvej Khan created history at the SEC championships on Saturday, May 11 by winning the gold medal in 1500m race, Parvej, the son of a farmer from Haryana put in an impressive 3:42.73 to clinch his second gold medal in the tournament.
When he stepped out on the track in Louisiana, Parvej showed no signs of nerve. The 19-year-old stole the show in the heats ahead of the final, showboating and hyping up the crowd as he passed the leaders in the final stretch of the 1500m of the race.
The transition from Parvej was so seamless that the broadcasters were flabbergasted and started lauding the youngster for his exceptional ability and style. After the heats, Parvej Khan put in impressive performances in the finals of the 1500m and 800m to win gold and bronze medals. Speaking to the media after his win Parvej said that he did not really push in the 1500m race.
“1500m was easy for me. I did not give my 100 per cent in that race because I had 800m just after that. I was going at a comfort pace and only pushed in the final 200,” Parvej told the media after his race.
Asked about his gestures to the crowd, Parvej replied that he did not mean to be disrespectful to any of the competitors who he was racing against.
“I did it for the crowd, to hype up the crowd, my intention was not bad towards my rivals, I really respect my competitors. I am not disrespecting them, I just did it for my home crowd,” Parvej said.
With the Paris Olympics just a few months away, could Parvej manage a late entry into the Indian contingent? Parvej didn’t think so. While running in the Olympics is his dream, Parvej felt that he was quite far from the Olympic qualification and needed more time.
“Ya, representing India in the Paris Olympics is in my mind but you know it is very hard to qualify at 3:33, and that is very hard. I am working hard every day and executing my plans, hopefully, one day I will be in the Olympics standards,” Parvej said.
Who is Parvej Khan?
National Games gold medallist Parvej Khan on Saturday became the first Indian to qualify for the final of a track event in the NCAA Championships of the United States, one of the most competitive collegiate competitions in the world, as he made the grade in men’s one mile event in Boston.
Khan clocked 3 minutes 57.126 seconds to finish third in the one-mile preliminary run and make it to the final in the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.
The 19-year-old was representing the University of Florida as he earned a college scholarship there last year.
The 19-year-old Khan, who belongs to a farming family in Mewat region in Haryana, had won the 1500m gold in the 2022 National Games with a new personal best of 3.40.89 in Gandhinagar.
One mile run though is not popular among Indian athletes and is not in the Olympic and World Championships programmes.
Three Indians — Tejaswin Shankar (2018 and 2022 in high jump), Mohinder Singh Gill (triple jump) and Vikas Gowda (2006 in discus throw) — have all won gold at the NCAA championships.