Champion’s focus is on consistency

Just 21, Renjith, the first sportsperson from the painters-by-profession Maheshwary family, last week gave Indian athletics a glimpse of hope by bettering Mohinder Singh Gill’s Indian record of 16.79m set in Fresno, US, in 1971, during the Guwahati-leg of the Asian Grand Prix 2007.

For Renjith, “records” aren’t the focus, but consistency is. This, in a way stems from the teachings of National coach Sukhdev Singh Pannu. Renjith said: “Pannu Sir ji always reminds — nothing can be a record unless you match it time and again. I don’t want to be known for just one jump.”

Hailing from Chananikady — a village situated eight kilometers from Kottayam — Renjith’s inroad into athletics was not the usual “by accident” case. He springs a surprise saying: “I was ‘forced’ into it.”

Reason — his MCVHSS Arppukra school coach Soma Kumar felt his efforts, that surpassed all at the school, added to his physique had potential that could be moulded into a champion.

Six years hence, Renjith, who until 2002 was long jumper and hurdler, does not regret being ‘forced into fame’. “Honestly I never thought I would go so far,” he quipped.

If Kumar spotted Renjith, then it was SAI’s Centre of Excellence Kottayam coach, Uday Kumar, who combined Renjith’s speed — from his hurdling ability — and jump-strength into the triple jump. Under Kumar, Renjith managed to attain 16.42-meters, which basically made him dream to go further.

On the advice of Uday Kumar, Renjith shifted to the national camp at Patiala, but suffered a set-back as he came down with jaundice barely six months after joining. “It put paid to our (includes coach Pannu) 17 meter target. Else, God willing, the record may have come earlier.”

With 16 m-plus efforts becoming routine, his almost unnoticed 16.72m — which put him within the qualification bracket for the Osaka World championships during the Federation Cup in Kolkata last month — proved that he was back on track, before history was rewritten in Guwahati.

In his quest for excellence, Renjith, since 2003 had spent only five months at home. “Not that my family does not like sport. They follow me every where I go and support me totally,” he said.

So did he call his family first from Guwahati? No, he said, revealing that it was Uday Kumar. Renjith used an official’s cell phone to convey the message and promised to talk at length later. And like his wait for the big moment, Uday too waited before his ward narrated a step-by-step account of his leap at 1.00 a.m.

Renjith seems realistic and level headed about his next steps. “As an athlete an Olympic medal is what I dream, but honestly I would like to do well at the Asian Track and Field championship at Amaan (Jordan),” he said, despite making the cut of 16.80-meters for the World championships and the Beijing Olympics.

Along with media clippings, Renjith has his competition bib (No. 257) as a memento. He now has one wish, to talk to Gill, who has been an inspiration. “The least that I would like to say is ‘you are great’. And seek his blessings.”

Renjith’s wish may not be a high ask— maybe just a phone call away —but the fact that he has leapfrogged 20 places on the world rankings to No 18 is certainly something to cherish.

RENJITH’S BEST FIVE
n 17.04-meters: Asian Grand Prix, Guwahati
n 16.72-meters: Federation Cup, Kolkatta
n 16.54-meters: Doha Asian Games
n 16.03-meters: All-India Inter-Varsity, Bhubaneshwar
n 15.20-meters: School Nationals, Bangalore
GUWAHATI DOSSIER
1-16.15m. 2-16.19m. 3-16.89m.
4-17.04m. 5-Pass, 6-16.76m