In her quest for Tokyo, Sudha Singh stays clear of home

Staying throughout the confines of the National Institute of Sports, Patiala is changing into the brand new regular for high Indian athletes as they don’t wish to return dwelling and threat getting contaminated with the novel coronavirus. Ace steeplechase runner and Asian Games medallist Sudha Singh, who’s aiming for a final shot at gold on the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, is one such athlete.

“I don’t want to risk myself as there is every chance of getting infected if I visit home (Rae Bareli). At home, I have to run on the roads for my routine fitness and endurance training, and that would be risky,” mentioned Singh. “Even if things remain normal at home, I have to be quarantined after reaching home and again go through the same process once I come back to the camp. So it is better not to go home and meet the family,” she mentioned, including, “I am in constant touch with the family.”

Gold medallist on the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou and silver medallist on the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games, Singh doesn’t wish to go away any stone unturned for Tokyo subsequent yr. “It’s my dream to finish on a high and would be very satisfying if I manage a podium finish in Tokyo,” mentioned Singh, who shall be 35 subsequent yr. “It’s all in your mind,” mentioned Singh when requested about maintaining with youthful challengers. “In fact, I never think about my age while running and always try to draw inspiration from other ageing athletes who have won medals at the top level. Even before 2018 Jakarta Games, I was discouraged by many because of my age but I proved my critics wrong and won a silver medal. I know that even at 35, I would be able to do well in marathon.”

If the Olympics had been to be rescheduled another time, Singh mentioned she would retire after the 2022 Asian Games. “I would try to win a medal at the 2022 Asian Games and say goodbye to the sport. But for sure I am not going to quit without winning one more medal.”

Singh, who has additionally gained a gold and three silver medals at Asian Championships between 2009 and 2017, has been operating fairly effectively to attain the qualifying mark. “I am capable of qualifying in both steeplechase (9.30 sec) and marathon (2:29.30 sec) but now focused on marathon only. I have a chance to qualify at the Japan event in December before trying my luck at the Mumbai marathon next January,” mentioned Sudha, who’s now operating throughout the qualifying time restrict throughout her 21-km coaching. “I am also focusing on endurance and strength training for the December-January events,” mentioned Sudha, who had a 19th place end in marathon on the 2015 World Championship at Beijing with a timing of two:35.35 sec.