Sandeep wins 50km race, misses Asiad mark

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 17

In  the end, the result left Sandeep Kumar gasping for more. Sandeep,  representing Haryana, decimated the field to win the National Race  Walking Championship but failed to qualify for the 2018 Asian Games. His  time of 3:56:39.71s was a minute off the qualifying mark set by  the Athletics Federation of India. 

Sandeep will get another chance to qualify for the Asian Games at the IAAF World Race  Walking Championships, to be held in Taicang, China, in May. The build-up to this championship was not ideal for  the 31-year-old as he had a falling out with foreign coach Alexander  Arstybashev. He was among the four runners who left the  national camp in Bengaluru, being held  under the Russian, to  train under Surender Kumar at Patiala.

Speaking to The Tribune,  Sandeep blamed the 500m track and the semi-competitive field for  his failed attempt. “Races aren’t normally held in the 500m track.  Generally, it is a 2km track. I could have broken my national mark  today,” he said. “I am a little disappointed as I wasn’t pushed hard, otherwise  the national mark was well within my grasp.” 

UP’s Priyanka breaks record

Uttar  Pradesh’s Priyanka Patel broke the national record in the women’s U-20  10km event as she won the race with a timing of 49:01.81s. UP’s Bandana Patel finished second in 51:23.52s, while Ramandeep Kaur of  Punjab bagged the bronze in 52:12.18s.

Gold for Akshdeep 

Punjab’s Akshdeep Singh  bagged the gold in the men’s U-20 10km event with a timing of  43:04.65s. Haryana’s Hardeep and Manjeet finished second and third, respectively.