KT Irfan looks to make amends
NEW DELHI: International race walker from Kerala KT Irfan had raised the bar during the 2012 London Olympic Games by finishing overall 10th and setting the national record of 1:20:21. Since then his journey had been topsy-turvy --- he missed the 2016 Rio Olympic Games qualification due to a nagging injury and was disqualified in the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games.
With the season’s first international race walking event taking place in Chennai this weekend, Irfan is looking to make amends during the two-day event starting February 16. The race will also act as the qualifier for the World Championships in September at Doha.
He is excited about cracking the qualifying mark of 1:22:30. “The qualification isn’t challenging, but it is important to stay focus during the race,” Irfan said from Bengaluru. After a disappointing 2018 season, Irfan wants to start afresh.
“Bad times are over. I have plans to come close to my personal best this season and stay in contention for an Olympic berth,” he said, adding “the future plans will depend on good performance during next weekend.”
Finishing in the top two will ensure him a place in the national squad for the Asian race walking championship in March. His main challenger will be Manish Singh Rawat from Uttarakhand.
Rawat had finished 13th in Rio and has been a regular in the national team. “Since there are few international exposure trips for race walking, it will be foolish to miss the continental event,” he added.
Irfan is also elated at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) plans to make the event more attractive by reducing the distances in both men’s and women’s group. “It will become more exciting,” he further said.