Krishna, 38, mother of a teenager, working hard to make comeback

Karam Prakash

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Commonwealth Games gold medallist Krishna Poonia is training hard to make a comeback after a gap of 18 months. The 38-year-old discus thrower, who has not participated in any competition since the 2014 Glasgow CWG where she had finished fifth, will be back in action in next month’s Federation Cup in New Delhi.

Poonia, who in 2012 became the only Indian woman to reach the final of the discus throw event at the Olympics, has set her sights on qualifying for the Rio Olympics. 

Poonia is preparing at NIS Patiala under the guidance of her coach and husband Virender Poonia. 

Poonia, who underwent a minor operation on her left knee in August last year, started training recently. “I had picked up this injury back in 2010 but I overlooked it; I didn’t stop training and kept participating in competitions,” Poonia said. 

“In 2014, after the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, I realised I should stop training and recover from the injury,” she added.

“I have recovered from the injury and have been throwing for over a month now. Right now, I am practising twice daily.” Poonia said the break hadn’t affected her throwing technique but she needed to work a lot on her fitness. She was confident that with the help of her physiotherapist, Ayush Yankhande, she would get back to her peak very soon. “Krishna is setting an example by being so fit at the age of 38,” Yakhande said. Poonia has a 14-year-old son. 

“I am blessed that my husband is my coach,” Poonia said. “It is a huge benefit. He takes care of everything; he knows everything about me, which helps him while coaching. Moreover, he gives me mental and emotional support.”

After the Federation Cup, Poonia is planning to train for two-three months at the United States Olympic Training Centre in Chula Vista, San Diego.

“I am hopeful that I will throw beyond the qualifying mark of 61m at the Federation Cup and make it to the Rio Olympics,” Poonia added. Virender said he was sure that Krishna would make it to the Rio Olympics. “Taking into account her life best of 64.76m (achieved in 2012), I am hopeful that she will win a medal at the Rio Olympics,” said Virender, a Dronacharya Awardee.