The only Indian athlete to compete in International Ironman Triathlon, Anuradha Vaidyanathan, was on Tuesday roped in as brand endorser by watch-manufacturing giants Timex.
Ironman triathlon is one of the most gruelling racing events in the world, during which every participant has to swim across 3.9km, cover 180km on a bike, followed by a full 42.2km marathon — without any break.
Vaidyanathan said she can now aim higher after landing her first sponsorship deal.
“Triathlon is not a big money event like many other games nor you can expect results fast. You have to keep competing for five-six years to become a familiar face in international circuit,” said Vaidyanathan.
“So it is very important to have the sponsorship backup.
This is my first major sponsorship deal and I hope this will help me to improve my performance in the years to come,” the Bangalore-based athlete said.
Vaidyanathan was also the youngest to complete the arduous Ultraman Canada Race held in August.
The 27-year-old, who took up professional triathlon four years ago, said, “My field is mostly international. Now I am preparing for the Half-Ironman event later this year that will probably held in Malaysia.”
