‘Road racing up in India, not standard’

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There is no patronage for distance running in the country. If you are in the camp it’s good, otherwise you are on your own. NS RAWAT , distance runner

NEW DELHI: Top Indian distance runner Nitendra Singh Rawat says the road running culture has grown manifold in the country but not the number of good runners.

“Some of the races offer good prize money, it’s good for financial security, but there are only three in the country capable of running the marathon under two hours, 16 minutes,” Rawat said. “Since top runners don’t train together, chances of improving also look dim.”

Rawat, winner among Indian participants in the Delhi half marathon last year, will be defending his title on Sunday. He says there are over 1000 road races, from 10km to marathon, organised annually in the country, but the performance of India’s top runners hasn’t improved. “This is because there is no patronage for distance running in the country. If you are in the camp it’s good, otherwise you are on your own.”

India hit world level in 1978 when the late Shivnath Singh set a national record of 2:12:00 in Jalandhar. At the 1976 Montreal Olympics, he clocked 2:16:22 to finish 11th. But Indian runners have only in recent times regained that level. In 2016, T Gopi, Kheta Ram and Rawat (all Army) had dipped under 2:16, and ran in Rio. Gopi, with a personal best of 2:15: 25 was 25th and Ram was 26th. Rawat pulled a hamstring to finish 84th. He had clocked 2:15:18 in the 2016 Mumbai marathon to qualify for Rio.

In 2018, no Indian, including Gopi, the Asian champion, quali fied for the Commonwealth Games or Asian Games.

Rawat has set his sights on the 2019 season, which includes the World Athletics Championships in Doha in September and the World Military Games. “Coming Sunday will give me a good chance to review my perform ance,” he said.

NO RECORD PLAN

Kenya’s women’s world record holder, Joyciline Jepkosgei isn’t looking to attack that mark (1:04:51). “It will depend on the weather and how my body reacts in the race,” the 24-year-old said in a media interaction on Friday

Joyciline’s professional career is just three years old. The Ken yan said: “The money is impor tant; it helps me do some commu nity work back in my village near Eldoret in the Rift Valley. I sup port schoolchildren from humble background so that they are able to build their careers, stand on their feet.” Her main rival will be Ethiopian distance great, Tirun esh Dibaba.