There will be a first at the Beijing Olympics for India – L Balasubramanium, a sports fitness trainer, is heading to the Olympics and he is the first Indian trainer to be part of the Games.

“I am completely over the moon. Words cannot explain my happiness after I heard that I have been selected for Olympics,” Balasubramanium said.

There is more to this trainer than his child-like exuberance. Balasubramanium will be one of only 10 trainers at the Beijing Olympics and he credits his daughter for his success. Bala had to beat around 5,000 applicants to earn this once in a lifetime opportunity.

“I just applied for it and then the entire process began. The good news came on my daughter’s birthday,” Balasubramanium said.

Bala is presently managing the leisure centre at the Amby Valley City. Apart from being involved in wellness centres, he has in the past trained athletes and cricket league teams too but the Olympics is as big as it gets for him.

“It is the biggest platform to learn. I will be looking and learning from athletes from all over the world,” he said.

The trainer also has a ready list of athletes with whom he would love to work. “It will be my biggest challenge if I can train Asafa Powell or Tyson Gay,” he said.

Bala won’t win a medal but you can be sure that he will make India proud. Here’s wishing him the very best.