The Hindu : Sport : Jagadeeshan relishes challenge

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Oct 23, 2007
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Sport

Sport - Sports : General

Jagadeeshan relishes challenge

Nandakumar Marar

— Photo: Vivek Bendre

GOOD SHOW: Jagadeeshan impressed many with his creditable performance.

MUMBAI: Triathlon is such an extreme test of human endurance that completing the event is a victory in itself; any placing is a bonus. J. Jagadeeshan, India’s fastest finisher at the men’s individual event at the fourth World Military Games is a survivor. Bitten by a sea snake while training off the Mumbai coastline, he took a week’s break and recovered in time for Sunday’s run. Competing in his second international event, he finished 30th out of 87 participants in the multi-sport event comprising a 1.5km sea swim, 40km biking and 10km road run.

Jagadeeshan laughed off queries about fear of snakes. “Fear does not help. If an armyman feels afraid, how could work be done?” asked the 19-year-old, after striding out of the waters.

Tough field

He was pitted against professional triathletes (14 men at the WMG qualified for the Beijing Olympics) and the Bombay Sapper Havildar’s feat is an encouraging sign for the Services Sports Control Board’s talent-hunt project.

Coach Subhash Nirmale, guiding the youngster through a throng of television cameras and interviews, pointed out that the army talent scouts spotted Jagadeeshan’s swimming ability and rated him as a potential triathlete.

“He is good in swim and run, though he has to improve a lot in cycling.”

“Butterfly and freestyle were my favourite events, I took part at the National Games competitions before accepting the offer to join the army sports wing after the seventh standard,” said Jagadeeshan, who belongs to a family of fishermen from Chennai.

On coaches

“I owe a lot to my coaches,” he said, going through the grind under the eyes of Lt. Col. R.D. Singh, Bombay Sappers, trainer, Indian Armed Forces triathlon teams. India finished 10th (114 points) in the men’s team event at the fourth WMG.

Jagadeeshan 30th, Subhash Bhise 41, Mani Singh Singh 43, Akhil Sheikh 46 and Vikas Shelke 54 all completed the course in the men’s individual category, the months of preparations under coaches Bhim Singh, Kaptan Singh and Subhas Nirmale paying off.

And Jagadeeshan now looks forward to more international opportunities.

“My first event at the European Open in Turkey was cut short when the cycle malfunctioned. After months of preparation for the Military Games, the experience of taking part in an international triathlon has boosted my confidence. I feel I can do better.”

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