Champion146;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 Gill8217;s Indian record of 16.79m set in Fresno, US, in 1971, during the Guwahati-leg of the Asian Grand Prix 2007.

For Renjith, 8220;records8221; aren8217;t the focus, but consistency is. This, in a way stems from the teachings of National coach Sukhdev Singh Pannu. Renjith said: 8220;Pannu Sir ji always reminds 8212; nothing can be a record unless you match it time and again. I don8217;t want to be known for just one jump.8221;

Hailing from Chananikady 8212; a village situated eight kilometers from Kottayam 8212; Renjith8217;s inroad into athletics was not the usual 8220;by accident8221; case. He springs a surprise saying: 8220;I was 8216;forced8217; into it.8221;

Reason 8212; 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 8216;forced into fame8217;. 8220;Honestly I never thought I would go so far,8221; he quipped.

If Kumar spotted Renjith, then it was SAI8217;s Centre of Excellence Kottayam coach, Uday Kumar, who combined Renjith8217;s speed 8212; from his hurdling ability 8212; 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. 8220;It put paid to our includes coach Pannu 17 meter target. Else, God willing, the record may have come earlier.8221;

With 16 m-plus efforts becoming routine, his almost unnoticed 16.72m 8212; which put him within the qualification bracket for the Osaka World championships during the Federation Cup in Kolkata last month 8212; 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. 8220;Not that my family does not like sport. They follow me every where I go and support me totally,8221; he said.

So did he call his family first from Guwahati? No, he said, revealing that it was Uday Kumar. Renjith used an official8217;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. 8220;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,8221; 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. 8220;The least that I would like to say is 8216;you are great8217;. And seek his blessings.8221;

Renjith8217;s wish may not be a high ask8212; maybe just a phone call away 8212;but the fact that he has leapfrogged 20 places on the world rankings to No 18 is certainly something to cherish.

RENJITH8217;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