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Young stars keen to hog the limelight

Stan Rayan

KOCHI: The numbers are pretty impressive, the big names are all here but it’s the youngsters who appear to be more enthusiastic on the eve of the National Open athletics championship at the Maharaja’s Stadium here on Sunday.

Many of the top stars appear to be worn out after a long and extended season. While Asian triple jump champion Renjith Maheswary spoke of a thigh injury which troubled him at the Beijing Olympics and which continues to bother him, many others said that they were weary after training for nearly 18 months without much of a break.

“That’s just an excuse,” said P.T. Usha here on Sunday evening. “If proper training is there, they should be at their peak now. This meet hasn’t come all of a sudden, they know of this nearly a year in advance.”

Big impact

But young girls such as Mayookha Johny and Tintu Luka are keen to make a big impact here. Mayookha hopes to break Anju George’s triple jump National record, while Tintu, who is coached by Usha at her academy, is looking for a strong showing in the women’s 800m.

“This championship will offer a good exposure for the juniors as they will be competing with the seniors without any pressure,” said Usha.

Missing the Olympics

For middle-distance runner Sinimole Paulose, Kochi will offer a nice chance to wipe away the disappointment of missing the Olympics. “After working so hard for so many years, failing to qualify for the Olympics really puts you down. But I don’t give up that easily, I want to give my best here and continue till the next Olympics,” said the Asian champion who recently joined the ONGC.

Nearly 900 athletes will be seen in action in the four-day championship with some of the premier events, including the races to decide the fastest athletes on Monday, being held under floodlights for the first time in Kerala.

Railways won the overall championship last year in Jamshedpur and is a big favourite to walk away with the honours this time too.

Vice Admiral Sunil Kumar Damle, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command, will inaugurate the four-day championship and Baby Mathew, the Kerala State Athletics Association President, will preside over the function.

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