Binu planning a German detour on way to Beijing

Talking to The Indian Express, Binu blamed himself for missing the finals at Athens. ‘‘I was late off the blocks. I’ve all along been a two-lapper (800m) and by switching to the one-lap (400m) event for the Games I needed to be quicker off the blocks than be tactical. That’s where I erred,’’ he says.

The 24-year-old continues, ‘‘I was very upset because I could not live up to the promise I showed the previous night (the elimination rounds, when he broke Paramjit Singh’s national record). I was tense because I knew it was going to be tough with top athletes around. But I tried my best.’’

About the future, Binu’s plans are to train for the Asian All-Star meet in Singapore starting September 28. ‘‘A medal there would be the right tonic for me to wipe out the mixed memories of Athens,’’ he says with a smile.

Binu also has some other concrete plans drawn up, thanks mainly to Beenamol. ‘‘If everything goes well, he would be training in Germany from next year. We have approached some clubs and other people and it might work out, We are weighing the options right now and discussing the formalities,’’ Beenamol says without revealing much.

In fact, Binu’s future is what took the siblings to Europe when the rest of the Indian contingent returned to India. Apparently, they had spoken to some people at Athens who suggested that Binu needed more international competition to make it big and advised them to explore possiblities in Germany.

Beenamol, meanwhile, believes little brother will be a different runner come Beijing 2008. ‘‘He has the potential to make it big. What he needs is all-round support,’’ she says.

For the moment though, Binu is going to hit the track in preparation for Singapore as Beenamol — a 29-year-old who has hinted at retirement often in the recent past — remains unclear about her future: ‘‘I leave for Trivandrum on Wednesday. Let met consult my people at home before I can talk about my plans.’’