Reworked training schedule works wonders for Malkit
LUCKNOW: In 2012, Malkit Singh quit athletics due to injury. The army sergeant stayed away for almost three years before staging a comeback to triple jump, courtesy a senior who reworked his training schedule.
The 11-month programme paid off as he set a meet mark of 16.47m at the Inter-services Championship last month. This infused hope but the challenge was to surpass national champion Arpinder Singh and three-time Olympian Renjith Maheswary at the 56th Open Nationals here.
Malkit got the result in his second attempt to achieve his first gold in Senior Nationals. The 16.57m remained his best at the end of Friday as he had three no-marks besides a 16.54m in the fourth attempt.
“I was sure of finishing on top as I knew that even a single jump would make a difference. Instead of feeling pressure, I was inspired by the jumps of my seniors, Arpinder and Renjith,” said Malkit, who had a bronze at the 2006 Senior Nationals. “I’m aiming for a repeat at the Asian Track and Field Championship in Ranchi next year,” he added.
Arpinder, who had a bronze at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, finished a poor eighth with a jump of 15.53m, while Maheswary won bronze with 16.02m.
Malkit, 27, who was named the best athlete of the meet all champions at the Sports Authority of India centre.
Long distance runners Suriya Loganathan and G Lakshmanan completed a golden double, finishing top in women and men 10,000m races respectively.
Karnataka sprinter HM Jyothi, who was the best woman athlete, added the 200m gold to her 100m gold.
Middle distance runner Ajay Kumar Saroj also secured a double by winning the 800m on Friday after Thursday’s 1,500m. IMPORTANT RESULTS
Men’s – Triple jump:
Women’s 800m: