Four young athletes fetch Tiruchi national acclaim

FANTASTIC FOUR: Tiruchi youngsters who won medals at national-level athleticmeets with their coach O.Gnanasuganthi. Photo: R.M. Rajarathinam

With medals adorning their necks, four young athletes of Tiruchi were a jubilant lot. The medals they won at the national-level athletic meets recently were rewards for their persistence and hard work.

P.Anburaja and A.Dinakaran, both inmates of Tiruchi Sports Hostel, and S.Shanmathi, a student of St. Joseph’s College, won medals at the national junior athletic championship held at Lucknow. Anburaja, a student of Shri Angalamman College of Engineering and Technology, emerged winner in long jump in the under 18 category, while Dinakaran, a student of Jamal Mohamed College, bagged the second prize in octathlon and third prize in long jump in the under 18 category.

Shanmathi, who took part in the girls’ under 20 category, finished third in heptathlon.

“Anburaja has been a consistent performer and Dinakaran is making good progress. Shanmathi achieved her personal best of 4107 points in the meet.

However, she will have to work hard to cross 4400 points to make a mark in the senior-level,” said their coach O.Gnanasuganthi.

Meanwhile, A.Mothi Arun, son of former international high jumper N.Annavi, finished third in high jump in the under 16 category at the national inter-district athletics championship held at Haridwar.

A student of Campion Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School, Mothi Arun too took part in the Lucknow meet.“It is his first medal at the national-level and has certainly done his confidence a world of good,” added Ms.Gnanasuganthi, his mother-cum-coach.

P. Kalaiselvan, district sports officer, and Mr. Annavi, secretary, Tiruchi District Athletics Association, felicitated the youngsters.