Fitter Rachita raring to go, sets eyes on World Athletics

APRIL 8: The 100 m bronze medal at the Bangkok Asian Games has not whetted the appetite India's sprint ace Rachita Mistry. She has now se...

APRIL 8: The 100 m bronze medal at the Bangkok Asian Games has not whetted the appetite India’s sprint ace Rachita Mistry. She has now set her eyes on the World Athletics Meet, to be held at Seville, Spain, in the later part of the year.

Fortunately, a fitter Rachita will be hoping to qualify for the Indian squad, to be chosen at Bangalore four months from now. Rachita is undergoing treatment for sietica, a nervous disorder in her back, from Dr D’Cruz, Pune-based Services doctor. Speaking to The Indian Express, Rachita said, “I feel 80 per cent better now. Dr D’Cruz gave me seven injections at different points along my spine. He has prescribed some exercises, which should make me completely alright.”

Rachita has been carrying the sietica disorder for 10 years now. “It used to pain a lot when I practised. It also acted up at Bangkok. So I decided to do something about it.”

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Rachita’s Asian Games time — 11.41 — is a second outside the qualifying mark for the World meet, 11.40. “The Asian Games win was just the start. I have many more achievements ahead of me,” the friendly sprinter said.

Her confidence is not misplaced. After a lay-off, forced by the birth of her delightful daughter Karen, Rachita has trimmed five seconds off her pre-marital best of 11.46 seconds. That came in two stages — a 11.43 at Mumbai in October 1998, followed by the Asiad performance.

“I owe it to my coach Adille Sumariwalla, who has been an inspiring mentor,” says the Central Railway employee, who received her promotion to the welfare officer post only last week.

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