Silver medallist Priyanka Goswami and her special companion Laddoo Gopal

"I have a Lord Krishna and I take him with me to every competition and he brought me luck today," Priyanka Goswami said.

Sports    09-Aug-2022
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When one looks closely at race-walker Priyanka Goswami standing on the Commonwealth Games podium in Birmingham wearing a historic silver medal, she can be seen holding a murti in her left hand. Dressed in the colours of the Indian flag, it's a murti of Lord Krishna in his 'bal roop' (childhood image), devotedly called 'Bal Gopal' or say "Laddo Gopal.
 
Race-walker Priyanka Goswami and her special companion
In Birmingham, history was being scripted by a devotee of Lord Krishna from Muzaffarnagar. That devotee was Priyanka Goswami who became the first Indian woman to win a medal in the 10000m race-walk event at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham last Saturday. Moreover, she clocked a personal best of 43:38:83 seconds.
 
The 26-year-old had a special companion who goes with her to all the competitions. It is none other than a small murti of Lord Krishna. She carries the murti everywhere she goes as a piece of good luck. "I have a Lord Krishna and I take him with me to every competition and he brought me luck today," she said after the event in the mixed zone.
 
 
"I dedicate my medal to my 'Laddoo Gopal' & my family", said India's Priyanka Goswami, after winning silver in the Women's 10,000m Race Walk finals
 
After winning the Indian Racewalking Championship in the 20 km race, with a new Indian record of 1:28.45 in February 2021, she qualified for the 2020 Summer Olympics. Though she finished in 17th position in women's 20km race walk, she has made India proud with becoming the first Indian woman to win a medal in the 10000m race-walk event at CWG.
 
"I'm elated to have won the first medal in race walking in #CWG for India...The one who won gold this time won gold in the last CWG too, but I'll try to win the next. Very proud that the national flag soared because of me," Priyanka Goswami said.