Luka gunning for Asiad gold
I missed gold in
2010 Asian Games. This time I am confident of
winning gold. TINTU LUKA
ATHLETE
Having won the Arjuna Award, top Indian athlete Tintu Luka said that the coveted honour came at the right time as she guns for gold in the upcoming Asian Games in South Korea.
Luka, who is the current Asian season leader in 800m ( 2: 00.56 at the Doha Diamond League in May), said she wants to make amends for her bronze medal finish at the 2010 Games by winning a gold in Incheon.
Luka also went into the 2010 Asiad as season leader after smashing Shiny Wilson’s 15year- old national record by clocking 1: 59.17 at the IAAF Continental Cup in Split, but missed the gold in Guanghzou.
“I want to win the Asian Games gold this time and this Arjuna Award has come at the right time. The award has given me the motivation and will boost my confidence,” she said.
“I missed gold at the 2010 Games in Guangzhou and had to settle for a bronze. This time I am confident that I will win a gold,” she added.
Asked if she had anticipated that she would get the Arjuna Award this time after missing out last year when she was also nominated by the Athletics Federation of India, Luka said, “There was nothing like I was expecting or not. It would have been the same had I not got the award this time also. But definitely, every athlete feels happy if his or her achievements are recognised. So I am also happy.”
The 25- year- old was a disappointment at the recent Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as she failed to qualify for the finals, but she promised to make amends in Incheon.
“I did not do well in Glasgow and that is why I want to do well at the Asian Games. Moreover, I am competing at the IAAF Continental Cup in Morocco next month and I feel that event will give a very good opportunity to measure myself against some of the best in the world,” she added.
The IAAF Continental Cup is a competition among the season leaders from four continental regions — Asia- Pacific, Europe, Africa and the Americas. Luka will represent the Asia- Pacific region.
The quadrennial event will be held in Marrakech in Morocco on September 13 and 14.
“I broke the national record at the IAAF Continental Cup in 2010 and I am aiming to run sub two minutes this time also in Morocco. Then I want to repeat that at the Asian Games and that should give me the gold.”