A.C. Ashwini's stupendous showing last season at the New Delhi Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games in Guangzhou — created an atmosphere that was reminiscent of the impact that P.T. Usha created way back in 1982 after the New Delhi Asian Games. Incidentally Ashwini too achieved her stardom in the 400 metres hurdles, an event in which Usha missed a medal by 1/100th of a second at Los Angeles in 1984.
After the bouquets, felicitation and a fractured wrist, Ashwini is back on the competitive trail this season with the 51st senior inter-State athletics championship commencing at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium here on Saturday.
And it remains to be seen how the girl from a humble background has taken in all the accolades. Ahead of a crowded season with the Asian championship at Kobe in Japan next month and the World championship at Deagu (South Korea) in August beckoning, the athletes need to hit the straps in right earnest.
Mayookha Johny after breaking the 14 metre barrier in triple jump will be under added pressure to do one better and cross the seven metres in long jump for women.
Coach Shyam Kumar, himself a National champion long jumper, is highly optimistic: “She has the potential for much more. 14 plus metres is just the beginning and she is just fourth in the continent now after the Wujiang effort. But she is a 15 metres plus jumper and should ideally reach it sooner ahead of the London Olympics next year.
Right encouragement
Moreover what's encouraging is that the jump has given Mayookha the right encouragement and confidence to do well in long jump as well and she should surpass her personal best of 6.64 metres and attain the qualification mark easily.
With the Asian Championship and the World event happening in the next two months there is every reason to hope that she attains the mark.
Challenging Mayookha will be another Kerala girl, M.A. Prajusha, who too hit the right cord at the Commonwealth Games, with a silver effort.
“With Mayookha jumping big, it's only but natural for others to do better,” said the 24-year-old Prajusha.
Poonia back
Krishna Poonia, back in the fray after her knee injury sounded confident: “it's more like a medical test for me in this meet. I am feeling good, but the knee has not been tested yet in the competition.”
Harwant Kaur will be there in the discus event but Seema Antil, presently training in the US, will miss out.
Nirupama Sunderraj, the blossoming sprinter from Karnataka, will also miss out as she is still to regain full fitness according to her coach V.R. Beedu. Nirupama was out of action for over a month for her 12th exams and commenced training in April.
Joseph Abraham in the men's 400 metres hurdles and Tintu Luka in the women's 800 metres should add depth to the star quality, along with the likes of Renjith Maheswary (triple jump), Om Prakash (shot put), Mandeep Kaur (women's 400 metres) to name a few.
With a host of other continental medallists in the fray, the meet is expected to be of high quality even though Kerala is likely to sweep the honours, what with its women power simply unmatchable.
The four-day championship is being covered live on Doordarshan.
