Defending Champion G Lakshmanan and his cousin L Suriya, who just scorched the Delhi Half Marathon, could well be the top Indian bets in the TSK 25K as it goes international this year.
The Indian elite contingent consists of 12 men and 11 women with G Lakshmanan, KalidasHirave and Avinash Sable leading the men’s stable. Meanwhile, defending champion Monika Athare, SwateeGhatge, JyotiGawte and Monika Raut make up for a very strong women’s contingent.
“It is a tough competition this year. But I will try to repeat my feat from last year. I know the competition is very tough. But I hope to put up a good show,” Lakhsmanan. Lakshmanan has won the 5000 and 10000 mts in the Asian Meet recently and looks in good form.
But it’s the women’s line-up that looked more competitive. L Suriya is a bright young entrant in the 25K category and has her reputation preceding her thanks to her 1.10.31 hr timing in Delhi Half Marathon.
Monika, who won the race here last year, is however coming at the back of a full marathon from which she has not yet fully recovered. “After the marathon my body gave up. It has taken me three months to recover physically. But I don’t think I have recovered fully yet. But the track here is nice and flat and I hope to run a good race here. I will be happy to complete the distance and to do it within my target would be fabulous.”
L Suriya is however seeing this as testing grounds for her Commonwealth target of 5000 and 10,000 mts
