He has taken part in three senior-level domestic races recently. In two of them he had neatly trimmed down his more fancied rivals, and had lost the third by a wafer-thin margin. Going by the rapid progress made in the last four years, the 20-year-old rising middle distance runner from Narela, on the outskirts of Delhi, has made the athletics fraternity sit up and take notice.

In the recently-concluded South Asian Federation athletics meet in Kochi, only the photo-finish camera could spot the difference between Chatholi Hamza and Ravinder in the 1500m race. Ravinder had finished the race in 3:44.84 behind Hamza’s time of 3:44.67.

Ravinder had outclassed Hamza on two previous occasions, in Patiala and Bhopal in the Federation Cup. Hamza, winner of the bronze at the World Military Games (1500m) had virtually dominated the 2007 season.

Now, high on confidence, Ravinder is ready to slog more and clip a few more seconds off his best time of 3:43 seconds, to book a flight to Beijing.

“I’m training hard and my target is to bring down my timing below the 3:40 mark this season,” he had said after the Patiala meet.

Future prospect
Even Belarus distance running coach Nikolai K Snesarev, who is overseeing the middle and long distance camp in Bangalore, has pinned high hopes on Ravinder. “He is among the future prospects,” Nikolai had said recently in Patiala.

The foreign coach, though, has polished Ravinder’s running in recent times. Ravinder’s early growth had been under coach Subhash Khatri, who had instilled confidence in Ravinder during his formative years. The bond is still strong between the two. Ravinder still doesn’t forget to call up Khatri after each and every race. “Don’t worry I am becoming stronger and stronger,” he always tells Khatri.

Ravinder proved himself in 2004 during the National School Games athletics competition by winning two medals -- gold in 5000m race (15 minute 20 seconds) and bronze in 1500m (4:08 seconds).

The story of Ravinder, an aspiring youngster from a humble background taking up sports in general and athletics is particular, is similar to that of hundreds of other sportspersons in the country. He too started running by chance. One of three siblings, Ravinder took up athletics as his elder brother Davinder was already a serious runner. However, Davinder couldn’t make the grade beyond inter-varsity competitions. Ravinder seems to be more determined than his brother. “He seems to be a born fighter. Doesn’t give up easily,” said Khatri.

His achievements in running helped him get a job in the Indian Railways in Mumbai. “The job has helped me support myself now,” he says.

Recently, Ravinder lost his father. But despite a heavy heart, he didn’t move away from the responsibility of devoting time to athletics.