GUNTUR: The last day of the National Inter-State Athletics Meet saw a stellar performance from two runners. The boy, who set a meet record, is happy to have won gold in his second attempt, while the girl wishes to get into Olympics as soon as possible.
Meet Kerala girl Anilda Thomas and Tamil Nadu boy Elakkiya Dasan, who stole the show and entertained the audience with their impressive displays.
Anilda, who won the gold in women’s 400m clocking 53.20 seconds, isn’t happy with the food and stay provided.
Asked what’s wrong, she said, “The hotel they have put us up is not great and is quite far away. I couldn’t adjust to the food and weather and suffered from infection too. I am happy to have won the gold in spite of all this.”
You know she has her future planned, when she said, “I want to qualify for the Asian Athletic Championships to be held next year and hope luck is by my side. I plan to take one step at a time and not think about the Olympics right now, although in my heart I wish I qualify for that.” Ask her about her performance in Olympics 2016 and she says, “It was not satisfactory. I could have done better, but I didn’t. I want to make up for that in 2020.”
Dasan seems pretty confident on the other hand. The Thanjavur native is currently pursuing graduation in Sociology from Loyola College. “I am participating in the championships for the second time. I am happy that I have made the meet record, besides winning a gold medal,” he said.
Dasan ran 100 metres in 10.6 seconds. He continues that getting a national record over the distance is his dream. “The next competition is going to be held in two months. I wish I can break the meet record there too. If I do well in that competition, it will help me get a berth in the Asian Championships,” he said.
Having missed an opportunity to get a medal last year in the meet, he is happy to have gotten it this time around. He worships his coach and said, “My parents have supported me in all my endeavours without forcing to me quit one to take up another. But it is my coach who should be credited for my performance today. He is my everything. I am nothing without him,” he says before signing off.
The Kerala team finished first in the overall tally, logging 159 points. Tamil Nadu, who finished in second place, collected 110. Haryana stood third with a tally of 101.5 points.
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