Sudha Singh (from left), O.P. Jaisha and Lalita Babar train under the watchful gaze of coach Nikolai Snesarev.
Sudha Singh (from left), O.P. Jaisha and Lalita Babar train under the watchful gaze of coach Nikolai Snesarev.
After shattering the women’s 3,000 metres steeplechase national record at the IAAF Diamond League meet in Shanghai, Sudha Singh said on Monday that the record was a “gift” to all her fans for their support.
Sudha, who has already booked her berth for the Rio Olympics, said coach Nikolai Snesarev motivated her to do well and “gift something back to the country for the support”.
The 2010 Asian Games gold medallist also felt that her eighth place finish in the second leg of the prestigious IAAF Diamond League meet in Shanghai, had come at the right time and would boost preparations for the Olympics in Rio de Janiero in August.
Sudha’s new mark of 9:26:55 minutes, rewritten 15 days after Asian champion Lalita Babar set the record in New Delhi, has intensified the friendly rivalry between the duo who enjoy a fine chemistry and train together under foreign expert Snesraev.
For Sudha, this was her first international outing on track since the 2014 Asian Games and she admitted to butterflies in her stomach prior to the race.
“We reached there in advance and also trained a bit. It was a bit cold, around 15 degree Celsius, but once the race started I didn’t know what was happening. This was my first international race in the steeplechase since the Asiad,” said Sudha, who clinched her Olympics berth in the first track event she participated since then, at the Federation Cup on April 29.
Sudha clocked 9:31.86 minutes to achieve the Rio qualification mark of 9:45.00.
Meanwhile, Lalita, who had already qualified for the women’s 3,000m steeplechase and marathon for Rio, said she was unable to run her natural race in Shanghai, but admitted that ups and downs were part and parcel of competing at the highest level.
“I was unable to run in my natural style, but these things happen. I will now concentrate on bettering my performance,” said Lalita, whose national record stood at 9:27.09s. She clocked 9:43.30s to finish 13th in Shanghai.
The trio of Sudha, Lalita and Snesarev returned from China late on Sunday night and are slated to resume training in Bengaluru.
