WATCH: Tokyo Olympics Athlete Breaks Down in Tears as Family Reveals Tragic News After Getting Back Home

Rising Indian track star Dhanalakshmi Sekar wept bitterly during her welcome back party in her home state of Tamil Nadu. The 23-year-old sprint sensation received some tragic news about a member of her family.

Her sister passed away during the tournament. Her family withheld the information from her so she could focus on the Olympics. It was only when she came back and reached home that they broke the news to her.

Sprint sensation – Dhanalakshmi Sekar

The young sprinter came into the limelight when earlier this year she ran an 11.39-second sprint and set a record in the 200 meters. She beat Dutee Chand comfortably, in the 100m who finished with a time of 11.58.

In the 200 m, she broke PT Usha’s 23-year-old record of 23.30 seconds. Dhanalakshmi ran a time of 23.26. However, she failed to qualify for the Olympics, whose standard is 11.15 in the 100m and 22.80 in the 200m for women.

“I’m happy that I won but I think I could run a lot faster. I was a little nervous because this was my first national competition of the year. Because of that, my body was a little tight over the final stretch,” Dhana Lakshmi said.

This is just the start for the 23-year-old phenom, as with more training and experience she will run faster times. Dhanalakshmi’s biggest problem, however, is a lack of funds.

She could not attend practice sprints before the national trials and travel for events with the help of sponsors and well-wishers. Her trainer Manikandan is positive that if she gains more experience, she will run an 11.20 in the 200m. Her nerves got the better of her during qualification.

The sole bread-maker in her family is her mother, Usha, who is a farmer. Sekar lost her father at a very young age and so her mother took up farming to support her family. She tragically lost her sister as well this year.

After winning the gold at the National trials, Dhanalakshmi had a very simple wish, “I’ve won the gold here. It’s my first national title, and I’d be very happy if I am able to get a job with it,” she says.

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