Nisar Ahmed, who is the son of a rickshaw puller and currently lives in a 10 by 10 feet shack, has been picked to train at Usain Bolt’s club – Racers Track Club in Kingston, Jamaica – after showing talent as an up-and-coming young athlete.
The 16-year-old will be whisked from his life in the slums of Delhi in India alongside 14 others from his country to the training camp in Jamaica, the home of eight-time Olympic gold medalist sprinter Usain Bolt.
The teen said: “I am very excited to travel to Jamaica for training. I will learn there and one day will win a medal for the county. My father is a rickshaw puller and most of what he earns goes on me.
“I want to meet the Sports Minister so that I can ask him for support. I am sure if I will get the support I will do well. I am also training for Commonwealth Games trials and hope I will qualify.”
Nisar was put forward by his coach Surendar Singh who has labelled the boy “extremely talented”.
He said: “Nisar has amazing talent. I have seen him improving day by day and the way he started his career is truly an example.
“Getting an opportunity to go to Jamaica is the biggest thing for him. I hope he will do well.
“He used to run in bare-feet. I trained him but with his talent, I realised he needed proper training.”
Singh started to train Nisar in 2013 whilst at school and recently he clinched the Under-16 national record in the 100 metres after clocking a timing of 10.85 seconds at the 33rd National Junior Athletics Championships in November.