National Games: In the final race of her career, Preeja Sreedharan wins silver

Preeja had said before the start of the Games that this could be her last competition.

The gulf in form between the women’s gold-medal winner OP Jaisha in the 10,000 metres and second-place finisher Preeja Sreedharan was wide enough – a minute and 50 seconds — for this to be called a one-horse race. Jaisha at 31, just a year younger than Preeja, has won both the 5,000 and 10,000 at the ongoing 35th National Games, and only last month had broken the 19-year-old Indian marathon record. But while Jaisha has found a second wind, Preeja, the double medallist at the Guangzhou Asian Games, has struggled over the past 18 months.

On Thursday at the University Stadium here, she announced her retirement from the sport. Preeja had said before the start of the Games that this could be her last competition so while her decision to hang up her boots didn’t come as a surprise, there were emotional scenes at the stadium which has a 13,000 capacity and was full, as she took a lap of honour.

Renjith swansong at Rio

Former Commonwealth Games bronze-medallist triple jumper Renjith Maheswary declared he would bid adieu to the track after the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Renjith won a gold medal in triple jump at the National Games on Thursday with a new meet record of 16.66m. Maheswary comfortably bettered the 16.62m mark set by Arpinder Singh four years ago in Jharkhand. Arpinder clinched the silver medal with a jump of 16.41m while the bronze was won by Services’ Rakesh Babu (16.29m).

Maheswary, who is yet to qualify for the Rio Games, said it would be his final appearance on the big stage. “I will retire after the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro because I want to spend more time with my family,” the 29-year-old said after his gold medal-winning effort.

The Kerala star has endured a roller-coaster career. His biggest achievements include winning an Asian Championships gold medal in 2007 besides holding the national record until last year. But he has also landed in controversies owing to a chequered past. Renjith had tested positive for a stimulant after the 2008 Beijing Olympics and had served a three-month suspension for it.

The sanction came back to haunt him in 2013 when the Arjuna award bestowed upon him was withdrawn owing to the furore generated by his doping past. Renjith is married to national record holding pole vaulter VS Surekha and the couple has a daughter, Jhiya Renjith.

“I am very happy with how I performed (on Thursday) and it has helped me put behind the bad memories of the past one year,” Renjith said. “I have also qualified for the World Championships (scheduled from August 22 to 30 in Beijing) and I am looking to resurrect myself. I was aiming to better the meet record and it is very satisfying to have done that.”

Dutee in 200m final

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Meanwhile, Dutee Chand is in contention for her second gold medal of the Games after she qualified for the 200m final by clocking the fastest time in the semifinals. Dutee, who won the 100m title on Wednesday, finished first in her semifinal with a timing of 24.19secs.

Rajinder breaks natl mark

In the men’s javelin throw final, Rajinder Singh of Haryana broke the seven-year old national record by hurling the spear to a distance of 82.23 metres. Rajinder touched 75.62 in his first attempt, which was good enough to give him the early lead and set the record in his second throw. The previous mark stood in the name of Anil Kumar Singh. Rajinder’s was the first national mark to fall in the athletics competition.