Aman Verma belongs to a middle-class family residing in Kalyan who dreamt of being a No.1 Jumper in the world. He is a one such personality who is one of the pioneers of this sport in India. After putting rigorous efforts, he made his spot in the Limca Book of Records earlier this year (2019) and this is just the beginning. Earlier he dreamt for representing India in Portugal but unfortunately, he couldn’t make it due to lack of financial aids. His journey is surely going to motivate the aspiring sportspersons of our nation to keep moving forward.

We are really keen to know, how did your journey begin?

I became familiar with Jump Rope as a sport during my final years of schooling. I was in 9th grade, Guru Nanak English High School, Kalyan when I participated in my first ever jump rope championship. But at that time, it was just another sport for me. I was also into Kho-Kho, Athletics, Badminton & other Sports. Things changed when I moved to R. Jhunjhunwala College, Ghatkopar to attend junior college, I was totally away from the sporting activities during that period of time. That was a phase when my life had no goals. Then one day, I realized that jump rope is the only thing I am known for and self-motivated myself to take it up professionally.

What were the hardships/hurdles you’ve encountered and how did you overcome them in your journey?

Success with no hardships is tasteless. I have faced lots of hurdles in this journey and one of the major hurdle was financial support. I belong to a very lower-middle-class family, I couldn’t manage and afford to participate in the competitions, proper shoes, skipping ropes and accommodation fees. Despite all this, I continued my practice. I did not get a proper practice/rehearsal space, so I used to practice at parks, gardens, open spaces & sometimes at the railway station during the nights. I believe you should have faith in yourself & continue to do what you can do and you will surely find a way out.

Know me beyond Jump Rope

Another problem was the discouragement I had to face from the people earlier, as this sport was not popular. In a world full of Cricket & Football fans, this sport was considered something unusual, different & unique. So, people could not accept it as a sport easily & they would keep on advising me to go for Cricket or Football or any other renowned sport instead of Jump Rope but my passion for this sport kept me firm over my decision of following my passion. I knew it’s going to be a tough ride but above all, I knew that it’s definitely going to be fruitful someday.

Who has been your influencer in this journey & how?

The most important thing that influences me today is the love & appreciation I get from people & my passion for Jump Rope. There are so many people who came forward to help me and stood by me too. Yes, it was tough earlier but my love for the sport never let me down. And now people’s appreciation and best wishes act as a huge motivation for me.

Tell us something about your coach?

I was introduced to this sport in my school days, at that time my sports teacher used to guide me. I never came across a professional Jump Rope coach in my life. All I could learn through was - ‘Trial & Error’ methods to find out new & better techniques for jump rope. I used to watch videos on YouTube to learn. Later on, I worked upon a new concept, where we could fuse jump rope skills and dance moves to be performed on music - called Jump Rope Fusion. Genesis Academy of Performing Arts in Kalyan really helped & guided me to master my skills.

Success is incomplete without its share of setbacks. What advice would you give to others about handling them?

Setbacks are the most important part of life, which gives you the most important lessons & the most unforgettable experiences. Always believe in yourself and what you do, you will find a way out of your problems. NEVER LOSE HOPES!

I remember those days when I opted for crowdfunding to participate at the World Championships at Portugal. I couldn’t manage to accumulate required money which made me demoralized and demotivated. It was one of my biggest dreams to represent our country at an International platform. It felt as if I wasn't made for this, just because of my economic conditions. I was away from the sport for around 7 months & I was depressed for about 3 months. I lost all the hopes and I wasn't even thinking of jumping again. It was because of my friend & one of my teachers that I could come back to this sport again. I really feel lucky about myself for having such people in my life who helped me & brought me back to the sport. But I would suggest that do not wait for anyone, help yourselves, believe in yourself & get things done.

Do you think Jump Rope activity can be helpful in life even if one does not want to consider it as a career?

Though if you don't take up jump rope as a sport but just as a workout it is very beneficial as Jump Rope is a full body workout & it burns around 600-700 calories per hour at a moderate pace and 850-1000 calories per hour at a faster pace. It is an amazing way to burn a lot of calories. Also, it keeps your heart healthy & improves co-ordination. It is an ultimate fitness workout for a healthy body.

What are the pre-coaching essentials e.g. Right age, mindset or any other?

Jump Rope training can begin at an age of 4-5 years as soon as your child starts running and jumping and one must keep doing it at different intensity depending on your age. It helps to develop better co-ordination & keeps the heart healthy.

How has technology transformed the world of sports?

For me, technology has played a crucial role in learning. Internet (YouTube) made it possible to learn new skills, new concepts, enhance techniques & gather knowledge. Technology is the coach for the people who do not have personal coaches.

What according to you is the scope of Jump Rope in India?

Jump Rope existed in India since ancient times but Jump Rope as a sport in India was introduced only recently. It is still underrated as not many people are aware of the sport, their skills & many other aspects that make jump rope a complete package for healthy living & also as a competitive sport.

If you were to bring one big change in the way people get trained in Sports, what would that be?

Many times, I’ve seen people training for something without getting themselves indulged in it. They just want to finish what they started. We need to find ways where we can bring more indulgence, more fun for the training. Tough training can also be fun you just need to find out the right ways.

What do you suggest for better accessibility of Jumping training in remote parts of India?

People in remote areas don't even have proper internet facilities and technology, thus it is tough for them to access information easily. But this could be sorted with the help of professional jump rope coaches and players who will get trained & then train other people who could reach out to them.

Your piece of advice to parents who are skeptical about their children taking up a career in any co-curricular activities?

Every child has got special talent in them. I would personally request parents to identify the hidden talent of their child and let them choose their career and fulfill their dreams. Everyone deserves a chance to prove themselves.

Your piece of advice to the youth of our country?

Our youth is the future of our country, so let us contribute to creating a better, cleaner and a healthier India. Do not lose hopes, believe in yourself & your dreams and keep working on it.

What is your success mantra?

I believe that the power of writing our fate is in our own hands. If we're willing to do something, & working hard for it, we would definitely succeed.

Which was “that” moment when you considered yourself as “I Am The 1”?

Life has been a rollercoaster ride for me. There have been many failures throughout my life. But the moment when I felt as “I Am The 1” was when I performed for the first time ever for the people instead of competing. It was an immense pleasure to get such an amazing response. Also, it was something unique & different, so it turned out to be very overwhelming for me.

Any other thoughts you want to share?

Respect what you've got not everyone is born to be Sachin or Ronaldo, everyone is different, value yourself. Winning is important but enjoying that moment is much more important.  So, enjoy and cherish each and every moment of practice & competition. Learn from your failures & live in the moment.

What was your thought behind encouraging your kid to take up Jump Rope as a professional career?

(Aman’s Parent) Right from the inception, my son decided to make his career in jump rope. We had a massive discussion on his career decision, and we supported him due to which his dreams could come true. We are very proud of his achievements.