Discus Rhrow: At 39, Krishna Poonia eyes Olympic glory

At 39, most athletes have already either retired, or are thinking of doing so. But 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Krishna Poonia is eyeing a comeback after being out of action for two years due to a knee injury.

The discus thrower, who will turn 39 on April 24, will be seen in action in next month’s Federation Cup national senior athletics championships here with the aim of qualifying for the Rio Olympics. She has not competed anywhere since the 2014 CWG in Glasgow.

“I picked up an injury back in 2010, but I ignored it till 2014. After the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, I realised I should stop training and recover from the injury. I was not able to even run or jump, but I am fully fit now after my left knee operation last year,” Krishna told this paper from Patiala where she is training at the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports.

“After surgery, I started my training at home, I was feeling much better and was throwing around 65 metres... then I thought if I would practise more I can come up with better results. If I qualify for the Olympics at 39 it will be an inspiration for the next generation. I am hopeful that I will throw beyond the qualifying mark of 61m at the Federation Cup and make it to the Rio Olympics,” she added.

The Haryana athlete, who became the only Indian woman to reach the final of the discus throw event at the Olympics in 2012, is training for almost six hours a day under the guidance of her coach and husband Virender Poonia.

“I am blessed that my husband is my coach. He also motivated me and showed full faith in me while I was recovering from injury. I am training with him for the Federation Cup for the last one month. He takes care of everything; he knows everything about me, which helps him while coaching. Moreover, he gives me mental and emotional support,” the mother-of-one said.

With no retirement on the cards anytime soon, Krishna also wants to win gold at the 2018 Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games.

“My aim right now is to qualify for the Olympics and if my results at the Olympics are good and I am injury free I want to add one more CWG gold medal to my kitty,”

After the Federation Cup, Krishna is planning to train for two or three months at the United States Olympic Training Centre in Chula Vista, San Diego.

When asked about Krishna’s decision, Virender said, “I never forced Krishna to make a comeback. It was her decision to give a try for the Olympics... even our son wished his mother to give it a try.”

Virender said he was sure that Krishna would qualify for the Rio Olympics before June. “Taking into account her career best effort of 64.76m (achieved in 2012), I am hopeful that she will come with better performance at the Rio Olympics,” said Virender, a Dronacharya Awardee.