The Hindu : Sport : Surender Kumar Mavi and Madhuri Gurnule take honours

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 21, 2005

Sport

Sport

Surender Kumar Mavi and Madhuri Gurnule take honours

S.Thyagarajan

Surendar Kumar Mavi (left), of Army Sports Institute, Pune, and Madhuri Gurnule of Nagpur, improved on their personal best timings to claim the top prizes in the men's and the women's sections. — Photo: V. Ganesan

CHENNAI, FEB. 20 . The mystique of marathon running was on full view as over 7500 competitors in different segments made the Temenos-Chennai Marathon on Sunday eventful in ways more than one. The fourth edition, organised by Rotary International District 3230 with the Sports Development Authority of India, reflected an international flavour with two Kenyans, Luka Kipkemoi Chalimo and Samuel Kibet Kanda enhancing the charm and art of distance running.

The pencil-slim and wiry Chalimo, a 26-year-old from Nairobi, was among the leaders from the start and he completed the course in 2:21:16.30s.

Known more as half-marathon specialists, both Kenyans were able to step it up for the full marathon on a warm Sunday morning on the Marina, recently devastated by the tsunami. Gripped by exhaustion from the pace he set for himself throughout, Chalimo, who is a protégé of the renowned steeplechaser Moses Kiptanu, collapsed at the finish and had to be carried off to the emergency medical centre put up by the Ramachandra Medical Institute, where help was prompt and efficient for the several runners who were brought in for medical attention.

Being a guest runner, Chalimo was ineligible for the top prize, which went to the first Indian runner, the compactly built Surender Kumar Mavi from the Army. Inspired by Chalimo running in front and pursued by Samuel, Surender Kumar more than realised the need to maintain a steady pace right through.

Confidence personified

Surender was confidence personified as he tackled the course and the weather, which was getting progressively oppressive. The pattern more or less remained the same throughout the race. Surender Kumer clocked 2:27:52.9s, well short of his career best time of 2:22.00 to take the cash prize of Rs. 2.10 lakhs.

For the 24-year-old sepoy, a regular in the Army circuit for the last two years, today's win was a significant milestone. Born in Meerut, Surender studied at the Navijan Kisan Inter School at Mawana District. The three years of rigorous training in the Army and in the ASI (Army Sports Institute, Pune), has strengthened this wiry runner, who won the National championship at Bangalore last year. Happy at the outcome, Surender's goal is a berth in the 2008 Olympic pack in Beijing. Currently, he is under training with the Cuban coach, Hlamedred at the ASI.

Improved show by Gurnule

For the Nagpur based Maharashtra girl, Madhuri Gurnule, an LIC employee, the title triumph in the women's section was only in keeping with her consistently good performances in distance running. She was followed by Rina Das of West Bengal and Eastern Railway.

Madhuri is a cross-country runner, having been part of the Indian teams in Copenhagen, Belfast, Portugal and Belgium. Her effort — she clocked 1:17.30.7 — was an improvement on her second placing in the Stanchart-Mumbai marathon last month where she clocked 1:21.59s.

Madhuri has also been a prominent 5000m and 10,000m runner, with gold medals in the Hyderabad National Games and earlier in the Ludhiana Games. Madhuri won a cash prize of Rs. 1.05 lakhs.

Tamil Nadu's Shanthi from Pudukottai missed the second place by a whisker. While Rina Das timed 1:20.02.3s, Shanthi clocked 1:20.32.2s.

Shanthi holds the medals in the 1500m and the 800m in the inter-university championships.

Enthusiastic participation

Over 80 men and 10 women figured in the senior citizens' race, which included the indefatigable 81-year-old A. Ramalingam from Salem. The enthusiasm generated by the younger group (15-20 and 10-15) added gaiety to the atmosphere. Unfortunately, confusion prevailed over the charted route in the 10-15 years category. There were voluble protests from a section of parents and participants and the officials had no option but to run the event again next Saturday.

Among the celebrities present at the start this morning were actors Madhavan and Mazoor Ali Khan, cricketers Robin Singh and Sadagopan Ramesh and several TV stars.

Mr. Inbatamilan, Minister for Sports, Tamil Nadu, gave away the prizes in the presence of Rtn. Benjamin Cherian, Governor Rotary International 3230, Mr. P.W.C. Davidar, Member Secretary, SDAT, and Mr. Walter I. Dawaram, President, Tamil Nadu Athletics Association.

The results: Men: 1. Surender Kumar Mavi (Army-Pune ASI)) (2:27.52.9s), 2. Chitra Kumar (TN-Nagercoil) (2:45.0), 3. Ratanlal Jain (Army-Pune ASI)) (2:47.0).

Women: Maduri Gurnule (Mah) (1:17.30.7s), 2. Rina Das (Ben) (1:20.02.3); 3. Shanthi (TN) (1:20:32.2s.).

Senior citizens: 1. Seham, 2. P. Moorthy, 3. P.A. Prabhakaran.

Age group event: Boys: 15-20 years: 1. Ashok Kumar Yadav (UP), 2. Rajapandian (TN) (34:32s); 3. S. Ashwin (TN) (34:48s).

Girls: L. Suriya (38:23s), 2. Shanmugavalli (42:3s), 3. A. Rajeswari (42:20s) (all three winners are from TN-Pudukottai).

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport