Still the same distance he had run over and over, through pain, through setbacks, through doubt. It was 1500 meters of racing—the distance where he had learned to control his breath, manage his pace, and push past every mental barrier that tried to hold him back. In those meters, he had discovered his own strength, his own resilience. No matter what the competition was like, no matter who he was running against, the fundamentals remained unchanged: run hard, run smart, and never give up.
"Thank you, Coach," he said quietly, his voice steadier now. "I needed that."
Ms. Mehra nodded, her gaze softening slightly. "Of course. But remember, Rohan, you don't have to do this alone. Everyone here—your teammates, your family, your coaches—we're all behind you. We believe in you. And most importantly, you need to believe in yourself."