sports
Anandi Rao
Eight lanes, one line
Rao held the national 400m record for nine years and coached the first all-women relay squad out of Vidarbha.
Discovered barefoot at a school sports day in Nagpur, Rao trained on a cinder track for six years before she ever ran on synthetic.
Chosen cause
Maidan Foundation
Funds coaching, kit and travel for young athletes from underserved districts.
Iconic moments
1996
District meet
Won the 400m barefoot in a borrowed vest, six seconds off her eventual best.
2002
Continental gold
Took the 400m title in 51.44s, then anchored the relay to silver.
2007
The relay project
Founded the coaching group that produced four national quarter-milers.
