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A certified NIS coach, Melwyn Crasto, who has trained Indian athletes like–Arjuna Awardee Sudha Singh and Mumbai Marathon winner Lalita Babar, trained actor Farhan Akhtar for a year, for his upcoming movie Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.

Melwyn Crasto, national level sprinter is passionate about sport. Forty-year-old Crasto, a deputy stationmaster of Chembur railway station speaks to Cityplus about his experience of training Farhan Akhtar for his movie, and also training the Indian athletes  

Coveted job

I was always into sports. I am a sprinter and had participated in many school and college level championships. I realised I wanted a job that gave importance to my passion-sports. Indian Railways is always considered to be the best training ground for any sportsman. All the best athletes at some point have been part of Railways like PT Usha. So, after I finished my studies I got a call from Railways, I grabbed it and worked towards my mission of becoming a national level athlete.   I also wanted to coach good athletes, who could represent the country someday. I did a complete study about the railways, and at that time, there was no coach to train people in sports. So, I approached the senior authorities and asked them if I could become a coach. They appreciated my decision, but because I lacked the professional knowledge required for training the Central Railway, I was asked to do a course from the National Institute of Sports (NIS) in Bangalore and get a proper training license. I completed my NIS course in 2004 and got the license for training. It was only because of Central Railway that I am here at this post and very proud of it. I have been Indian Railway coach since 2007.  

Worked on Akhtar's flexibility   I particularly don't know who recommend me. But I got a call from the production team of the movie. They asked me to train Akhtar, bit I told them to take proper permission from Indian Railway. After that I first met Akhtar at St Stanislaus School. Entire production team and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra were present then, and selected me. I had to work on Akhtar's flexibility. Being an actor, Akhtar is fit but he was not that flexible as an athlete should be. So, I worked on that. He is a quick learner, and is a very good dancer, which helped him to grasp various exercises quickly.   Since, the movie is about sports, there were many international runners who were called for shooting. International university level runners were surprised to see Akhtar, they did not believe that he is not a professional runner. He would give all the foreign professional athletes tough competition.  

Coaching Central Railway Currently, under my guidance, there are more than 95 students from the Central Railway. I guide them for different sports categories. In 2009, Sudha Singh won at national level and she is also a national record holder for 3000mtr steeplechase. She has also won a gold medal in the Asian Games.

Then, there is Lalita Babar, who is also a national level gold medal winner and has represented India in the Commonwealth Games (CWG) that took place in 2010. Sachin Patil, one of my students for 'Cross Country Run' won a silver medal in the 2008 World Railways Sports. I did get many offers, but I wont leave this job, as this is the one that brought me till here. I would also like to thank my seniors; Elisa Nelson, senior sports officer and Rajiv Tyagi, sports secretary. They have supported me and my family at every step.