Bengaluru
Madhya Pradesh’s promising middle distance runner KM Deeksha’s goal at the 63rd National Open Athletics Championships starting here from tomorrow, is to dominate both 800m and 1500m events.
Deeksha, who improved women’s national 1500m record to 4:04.78 in June on the USA circuit, said she will compete in both 800m and 1500m events in Bengaluru. “It will be a good time to test my skills in the last domestic meet,” Deeksha added. “Performance would depend on local weather conditions. But if all goes as planned, I should be able to pocket gold medals in both 800m and 1500m.”
Madhya Pradesh rising middle distance runner main competitors in 800m will be KM Chanda of Railways and Twinkle from Punjab in the 800m. Chanda is the leading 800m runner in the country.
Twinkle too has chalked out her plans for the 800m. “I’m all ready to face any challenge here in Bengaluru,” the Punjab runner said on the eve of the domestic meet.
Away from the track events, Madhya Pradesh’s shot putter Samardeep Singh Gill also aiming to break the 20m barrier in Bengaluru. “I’m looking forward to some good results during the domestic meet,” the thrower from Bhopal added. “I’m prepared for the fickle Bengaluru weather at this time of the year.”
The Open National Athletics Championships, the season’s last domestic competition has always given opportunity to athletes on the fringes to showcase their talent.
Way back in 2018, Army’s distance runner Avinash Sable stormed the 3,000m steeplechase bastion, breaking the long standing record of Gopal Saini.
Since 2018 Sable, 29, has been on a record breaking spree. He went on to win silver in the 3,000m steeplechase at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games. He was successful in winning gold in 3000m steeplechase at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games held in China in 2023. He also won silver in the 5,000m in China.
At the just concluded Paris Olympic Games, Sable was finalist in men’s 3000m steeplechase. His national record in the 3,000m steeplechase is 8:09.91 seconds.
Olympian and Commonwealth Games medalist in men’s long jump, M Sreeshankar rose to prominence in 2018. He made an impressive mark at the Open National meet then held in Bhubaneswar and never looked back. Sreeshankar missed the Paris Games as he was recovering from an injury.
The opening day will see race walkers and long distance runners battle for top honours in men and women’s events. The first event of the day is a 20km race walk in both men and women’s group. Followed by a 5000m track race.
