CHENNAI: Olympic countdown can be exciting for many athletes, and not quite for some. Weightlifter Sukhen Dey belongs to the second category. The 2014 CWG gold medallist is tracking the progress of teammates in the Rio qualifiers at Tashkent, apart from watching football and IPL on TV. He is also hoping that recovery from jaundice puts him on track for the national championship later this year.
The junior commanding officer with Indian Army should have accompanied the likes of Sathish Sivalingam to Uzbekistan, for he had been India’s best bet in 56kg. But following silver and gold in successive editions of the CWG, Dey has seen more of the flip side. After injury scuppered his chances at the 2014 Asian Games, illness ruled him out of the show every athlete wants to be part of.
“Think the jaundice was caused by spells of carelessness late last year, when I should have been more choosy about what I was eating and drinking. Certainly it hurts. But thanks to my employers, coaches and trainers, recovery has been good. I’m targeting the nationals (October-November) to regain my place in the Indian team,” Dey told Express from his residence in Howrah, near Kolkata.
The 27-year-old will launch his comeback bid once he returns to his training base at the Army Sports Institute in Pune on April 30. “I’ve been working out at a local gym, which is obviously not up to the mark. After going to Pune and chalking out a schedule in consultation with experts, I’ll start working on power and strength,” said Dey, adding that he expects stiff competition because of the rising standards.
The only bright side of this forced break has been the time Dey has got to spend with near ones. “I’m usually away. So playing with my nephew and niece takes up time. European leagues on TV and IPL games also keep me busy, although I avoid late-night fixtures. These are things you can’t indulge in if you’re at the national camp,” said the youngest of five children of a small time businessman, who is a Lionel Messi, and therefore Barcelona, fan. He also hopes lessons learned in tough times will stand him in good stead to handle similar situations in future. “Other than the injury just before the 2014 Asian Games and this one, I’ve not faced fitness issues. Given what has happened, I must make sure mistakes aren’t repeated. I’ll give 2020 a shot. Staying fit is priority in order to achieve it.”
Sukhen Dey
Born: Mar 28, 1989
Event: 56 kg
Residence: Howrah,
West Bengal
Trains at: Army Sports
Institute, Pune
Gold: CWG 2014
Silver: CWG 2010