Some sporting journeys begin with a childhood dream but Adwika K P’s started with a mother’s concern. Worried about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on her daughters’ health, Geetha P, a State Excise Department official, turned to athletics to keep Adwika and younger daughter Aditi fit and active.
Little did she know that her decision would set her elder daughter on the path to becoming a national-level medallist in triathlon.
The two sisters were enrolled at Dinesh Kunder’s Endurance Academy near their home in Mangaluru and that coach, with over four decades of experience in Indian athletics, noticed the elder one’s natural talent. Beyond her willingness to learn, he saw an athlete blessed with the physical attributes and work ethic needed to excel on the track.
“She is a very shy girl but is extremely disciplined,” Dinesh tells DH. “Whenever I ask her to do something, she follows it without hesitation. She always wants to get the basics right, and that makes my job much easier. Her mother’s dedication is also a key reason behind her growth.”
His assessment proved accurate as Adwika eventually announced herself on the state stage with a haul of medals, convincing her family that the shy youngster was anything but coy when expressing herself on the track.
“I may not talk much, but I’m very expressive on the track,” says a now 14-year-old Adwika with a smile. “I just love competing and spending time on the track. Every medal I win motivates me to work even harder and become better.”
Competing in the Under-14 Triathlon B (comprising of 60m sprint, 5m long jump and ball throw), she claimed the Karnataka state title in 2024 and was also adjudged the Best Athlete in her age category. After finishing 10th on her national debut at the Junior National Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar later that year, she returned to the same venue in 2025 to clinch a bronze medal following a close battle for the gold.
Away from the track, the Class IX student is equally accomplished in the classroom, consistently finishing among the toppers. Her father Dr Arun Kumar P, a homeopathy specialist, insisted that studies receive the same dedication as sport, a balance Adwika has learnt to embrace.
While many teenagers find themselves distracted by phones and social media, the 14-year-old triathlete believes success demands giving up on a few indulgences.
“I was inspired by P V Sindhu as she gave up on pizza and ice cream in her pursuit of excellence. It made me understand that an athlete should stay away from junk food as much as possible and must limit screentime too,” says Adwika.
Adwika is currently recovering from a foot injury that has kept her away from competition for the past few months. With the Under-16 category beckoning next season, she is expected to move away from the triathlon and specialise in an individual event and the youngster already is certain about her preference.
“I like running but I think I like long jump more as it has a lot of techniques and discipline involved,” says Adwika, who also looks up to national record-holder Ancy Sojan for all the confidence and style on the field and hopes to emulate.