THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: For Akhil Kumar C D, Sunday was an extraordinary day. Though he barely missed on breaking a previous state record by just 0.04 m (the existing record was 15.28 m), the teenager from Palakkad, made a spectacular show by breaking the existing national record. Akhil cleared 15.24 m, as opposed to the existing national record of 15.09 m in triple jump under the senior boys category at the 62nd Kerala State Schools Athletics Championship which concluded here on Sunday.
Akhil is a XIth standard student of Higher Secondary School Mundur, Palakkad. The champion who hails from Mundur in Palakkad belongs to an underprivileged family. He is the son of Darmendar and Shantha who work as daily wage workers in Palakkad.
“I tried to put in my best performance. Even though I could not break the state meet record I am happy that I won gold. I was also able to participate in the long jump event in the senior category at this event, though I achieved only the fifth position,” said Akhil.
Sijin N S has been training him for the past six years. “In the last year’s championship, Akhil won the silver medal. This is his first state gold medal. Like my student P U Chitra, I would like to prepare him for the national level and wish that he achieves heights in the upcoming championship,” said Sijin N S, Akhil’s coach.
During the inter-club meet, Akhil broke the 17 year old record of 15.21m and set a new record of 15.37 m.
His achievements will be registered as the bettered performance. Akhil needs to perform at the national meet to get registered at the National level.