Tribune News Service
New Delhi, February 17
In the end, the result left Sandeep Kumar gasping for more. Sandeep, representing Haryana, decimated the field to win the National Race Walking Championship but failed to qualify for the 2018 Asian Games. His time of 3:56:39.71s was a minute off the qualifying mark set by the Athletics Federation of India.
Sandeep will get another chance to qualify for the Asian Games at the IAAF World Race Walking Championships, to be held in Taicang, China, in May. The build-up to this championship was not ideal for the 31-year-old as he had a falling out with foreign coach Alexander Arstybashev. He was among the four runners who left the national camp in Bengaluru, being held under the Russian, to train under Surender Kumar at Patiala.
Speaking to The Tribune, Sandeep blamed the 500m track and the semi-competitive field for his failed attempt. “Races aren’t normally held in the 500m track. Generally, it is a 2km track. I could have broken my national mark today,” he said. “I am a little disappointed as I wasn’t pushed hard, otherwise the national mark was well within my grasp.”
UP’s Priyanka breaks record
Uttar Pradesh’s Priyanka Patel broke the national record in the women’s U-20 10km event as she won the race with a timing of 49:01.81s. UP’s Bandana Patel finished second in 51:23.52s, while Ramandeep Kaur of Punjab bagged the bronze in 52:12.18s.
Gold for Akshdeep
Punjab’s Akshdeep Singh bagged the gold in the men’s U-20 10km event with a timing of 43:04.65s. Haryana’s Hardeep and Manjeet finished second and third, respectively.
3
4
10