MOGA MAN STRIKES GOLD
Shot putter shatters Asian Games record as he breaks India’s gold medal jinx in the discipline
Even before entering the throwing circle on Saturday evening, Tajinderpal Singh Toor was thinking of his bed-ridden father Sardar Karam Singh, who is suffering from cancer for the last two years.
It turned out to be a big inspiration as the 23-year old shot putter from Punjab not only went on to win India’s seventh gold medal with a throw of 20.75 metres but also bettered the Asian Games record of 20.57 metres, set by Sultan Abdulmajeed of Saudi Arabia in 2010.
Tajinderpal celebrated his win with a slap on his chest and thigh just like the kabaddi players. “It’s the way I celebrate,” he said.
Asian Championships silvermedallist Tajinderpal achieved the milestone with his fifth throw, when he hurled the iron ball past the 20-metre mark. His first throw recorded 19.96m. On his fifth attempt, Tajinderpal touched the 20.75-metre mark.
Yang Liu of China (19.52 metre) and Ivan Ivanov of Kazakhstan (19.40 metre) ended way behind the Indian.
Tajinderpal switched to shot put after dabbling with cricket in his early years.
“My target was to cross 21-metre mark, and I will achieve it soon,” said an elated Tajinderpal, who was suffering from a bit of pain in his throwing left arm. “Still I am happy I could reach the mark. But the biggest thing for me is to win a gold medal in shot put for India after 16 years and that too with a record.”
He, however, said that he never thought of a medal here as his mission was to touch the 21-metre mark. “From the first throw of 19.96, I was in lead. Weather and wind conditions were favourable and I enjoyed my outing in the middle.”
The Navyman, who hails from Moga in Punjab, took a victory lap wrapped in Tricolour, garner- ing support of a sizeable Indian crowd. “I didn’t bother about the rivals. I was focussed on my target.
“For the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, I would be targeting 21-metre plus. I have my own plans for the big mission. For the last three years, I was No 1 in Asia,” said Tajinderpal, who had a secondplace finish at the Asian Championships in Bhubaneswar last year.
“Even there, I could have won gold, but it rained and the conditions changed. It was slippery so I just missed out on gold.
“For the last two years, my father has been suffering from skin cancer. But the family has been supportive. They don’t let me think about his ailment. They just ask me concentrate on the sport. They never allow me to accompany them to hospitals or doctors and that sacrifice has been productive.
He also said that for the last two years he was trying to break the national record back at home though it didn’t happen. “Finally, it happened here. I am also thankful to the athletics federation, which extended full support to me. My family, my coach my friends sacrificed a lot. Whenever my father fell ill my friends would visit him to the hospital.”
I am happy, I could reach the mark but the biggest thing for me is to win a gold medal in shot put for India after 16 years and that too with a record.
For the last two years, my father has been suffering from skin cancer. But the family has been supportive. They don’t let me think about his ailment.