For the record,Vij is Asia No.1

Though this hasn’t been registered as a national record,it was good enough to put Vij on top of the Asian Athletics Association’s rankings.

Maurice Nicholas,secretary general of Asian Athletics Association,while talking to Sportline on Tuesday confirmed that it was Vij’s ‘record’ at the state meet that has earned him the top ranking. “Because the athlete (Vij) produced this effort at a registered meet,it can be accepted as the benchmark,” Nicholas said.

Vij is delighted. “Obviously,it is a great moment. It would have been perfect if my effort at the Delhi state meet was considered as a national record. But this is a good beginning. My aim is to win a medal at the CWG.” According to the IAAF rankings,Vij is ranked No.18,which is way ahead of national-record holder Om Prakash Singh,at 42.

“I believe,I can touch the 21-metre mark,” Vij,currently training with his coach Jogesh Kumar,said. For Vij,these next few months could herald a new dawn. His is a career plagued by injury. After winning gold at the Junior Asian Games in 2006,he twisted his ankle.

This was followed by a shoulder injury. “Before these injuries,I was regularly throwing better than Om Prakash. While I was injured,I even thought about quitting the sport. But my family supported me. Their support gave me a lot of strength.”

However,he hasn’t received the same kind of support from his peers,some of whom have raised questions about the authenticity of his efforts. However,the 23-year-old rubbishes the allegations that he takes performance enhancing substances.”I have never skipped a doping test and none of my tests have given a positive result.”

Vij is adamant that he will train in Delhi for the Commonwealth Games unlike others who have opted to train abroad. “It is better to be here and get acclimatised to the conditions. I prefer training here and I am sure I will be at my best at the Games.”