LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Aditya Lal is a junior middle distance runner on Biola's track & field team and is majoring in international business. As a global student, Aditya's unique journey to Biola began at a ping pong table in New Delhi, India. 
 
Aditya grew up on a Christian compound about five miles from the New Delhi border where his parents worked as missionaries to the surrounding villages. Growing up with fitness-minded parents, running was always a part of his life. However, as a child, Aditya's small stature led him to the ping pong table where his speed, precision and unorthodox playing style helped him sky-rocket to the national level as a teenager.
 
One match he recalls took place when he was a 5-foot-1-inch middle schooler facing a 5-foot-11-inch German man. Learning to be unafraid in the face of such adversity became a theme in his life that continued on even after he eventually made the tough decision to leave his table tennis career behind.
 
Despite his astounding success, Aditya did not like the person he had become through his ping pong fame.

"It got to the point where every school and every coach in New Delhi knew who I was," he said. At times Aditya would have as many as 110 recruiters come to watch his matches.
 
"I became a people pleaser. I was very cocky and did not like who I had become," he said. "I am right-handed, but there were so many games that I played left-handed because I could still win. I would mess around so much."
 
Aditya faced a lot of discouragement from his family, friends and coaches after making the decision to quit ping pong. However, the track coach at his high school was one person that handed him an invitation rather than more criticism.
 
After joining the track team, Aditya quickly rose to success as a runner and won the state championship his sophomore year of high school. But even running presented its own obstacles. As a Christian, Aditya faced heavy discrimination on the track. Despite winning state his sophomore year, he was not picked to run on the national team because of his faith.
 
A year later, after winning by an undeniable margin, Aditya finally got to run at nationals, but the persecution only continued.
 
At times Aditya was chased off the track by crowds of over 15 stick-wielding men. He was spiked in the shins and even his back. Once, he was clubbed so hard with a baseball bat that he tore his hamstring. He was also threatened and told to lose on purpose, but he never did.
 
"I couldn't quit," Aditya said. "I had to show them that Christians aren't cowards. What can they do to me? My God is almighty."
 
Since coming to Biola, Aditya has been able to run without fear of harm, but God is still teaching him powerful things about his faith and character. Aditya started at Biola with the sole purpose and focus of excelling at track. So, when he faced a devastating knee injury last fall that put his running career on hold, Aditya began to question his whole reason for being at Biola in the first place.
 
"God is teaching me a lot," he said. "This summer I learned that God is teaching me patience."

This lesson in patience has helped Aditya endure the healing process for his knee and has also helped him handle the transition from running sprint to middle distance.
 
"My mindset is totally different now than when I was a freshman. I have learned and matured so much, and I am still looking forward to growth," he said.
 
With his last few years at Biola, Aditya hopes to prepare to open both a Christian law firm and a Christian school in India that emphasizes sports and supports athletes, which is something that he did not get to experience while growing up. Aditya also has the goal of going pro after graduation and representing his country in the Olympics.
 
"I want to make a name for Christians in India and show that they are capable of things," he said.