Olympians Renjith, Sahana rise to top

Just when Renjith Ma­he­shwary was expected to ra­ise himself to the next level, subsequent to his br­eachi­n­g the 17 metre-mark in 2007, his career inexplicably pl­­ateaued. Succeeding years ca­ptured his erraticism in full me­­asures so much so that de­­s­pite qu­alifying for the Olympics, he was urged to undergo a further trial to prove his fitness.

The London Olympics was expecte­dly a low point in his career as he failed to qualify for the final with a “no mark”. He took off horrendously in his first jump in the 52nd Open Athletics Cha­mpionship at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Tuesday. The el­­e­­ctronic fl­ashboard flashed 15.93m. He follo­w­ed it up wi­­t­h 16.13, 16.21, foul, 16.35 be­­­fore the final effort of 16.­72m. Even his second ju­­mp (16.13m) would have sufficed as his closest competitor in the domestic circuit, Amarje­e­t Singh, leapt only 16.03, tr­­­ailed by Arpinder Singh (15­.­92). The measurements cle­a­rly indicate the mediocrity of Indian triple jumpers incl­u­ding Maheshwary, who at one stage of his career was pr­­ojected to fetch laurels for th­e country. And at 27, he ha­­rdly seems like fulfilling his po­­tential. But given the sh­o­r­tage of talented triple jumpe­r­s, his national record of 17.07 (2010) would take so­­me beating to be surpassed.

So far, only one meet record hasn’t been breached, forget about national records. For all the organisational diligence, competence levels have been appalling, more so evident in the track than field events in what is supposedly the fastest track of the country. When athletes elsewhere are briskly marking sub-10s, a mere run of 10.60 by Manigandan was enou­gh to fetch him gold. He was literally unthreatened as his closest rival, BG Bagraj, completed the race in 10.70 sec­o­nds, trailed by Debhanth Jyoti Shankar (10.74). Unheralded sprinter Manisha of Railways emerged the fastest woman of the ch­ampionship, outrunn­ing favourite Sharadha Narayanan, her Railways co­lleague. Manisha timed 11.77, .26 seconds ahead of Sharadha (12.03).

Meanwhile, experienced high jumper Sahana Kumari and quarter-miler MR Povamma annexed gold. Poovam­ma, who has fallen out of the national radar, im­pressed with an effort of 53.79 sec. That none of her counterparts managed sub-54 timings exposes the dearth of quality quarter-milers in the country. Olympian Sahana Kumari sprang 1.84m for gold in high jump, a one-cm improvement upon the meet record, held by Sahana herself.