By Sahil Kohli
New Delhi [India], October 2 (ANI): After the conclusion of their respective Asian Games marketing campaign, two Punjab athletes who raised the tricolour excessive on the worldwide degree, one a veteran shot-putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor and the opposite, a rising star sprinter Gurindervir Singh, introduced again dwelling two totally different tales.
The three-time Asian Games medalist Toor offered his never-say-die angle and tiger mentality after falling down so many instances, whereas Gurindervir offered a extra humane aspect of an athlete who at instances copes with efficiency stress, making an attempt to self-improve, make his heroics meet up with the hype acquired from followers.
After back-to-back Asian Games gold medals, Tajinder did produce a hat-trick of shot put medals on the continental showpiece with a silver, producing an effort of 20.64 m, effectively in need of his nationwide report of 21.77 metres. On the opposite hand, the nationwide 100 m record-holder Gurindervir, who completed fifth in his self-discipline individually, managed to safe his identify within the Asian Games medal tally with a bronze medal within the blended 4x100m relay.
Speaking after returning dwelling at Delhi airport with the athletics contingent, Toor instructed ANI that he anticipated to win gold, however missed it by a number of centimetres due to rain. He additionally spoke concerning the doubt folks had about his choice forward of the occasion, and he replied to them not solely with a medal, but in addition a social media assertion saying that ‘Toor is right here’. Clearly not completed attaining extra glory for his nation, Toor remarked, ‘Tiger abhi zinda hai’ (tiger continues to be alive).
‘It feels superb, however I used to be anticipating to win the gold medal. The gold medal slipped away by simply 17 centimetres. It was raining closely as effectively, however I’m completely happy that I received a medal for the nation,’ stated Toor about his medal.
In his social media publish, he stated, ‘During my choice on the Inter-State occasion, I completed third resulting from an damage. Many folks have been asking questions like, ‘Why are you taking him alongside?’ That is why I stated, ‘Toor continues to be right here.’ Tiger abhi zinda hai (The tiger continues to be alive),’ he added.
The athlete stated that he might have completed effectively this season, noting his constant throws of 21.50 throughout apply, and his additional goal is the 22 m mark and Olympic glory after accidents at Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024 campaigns curtailed his performances.
‘Moving ahead, this yr I might have completed very well-I used to be throwing past 21.50 meters throughout apply. So my goal for subsequent yr is to the touch 22 meters. Also, my final two Olympics didn’t go very well-I had a wrist damage in a single and an ankle damage within the different. So I hope to present my greatest efficiency within the upcoming LA 2028 Olympics,’ he stated.
Gurindervir, who rose to fame this yr with a record-breaking efficiency on the Federation Cup, turning into the primary Indian man to clock sub-10.10 seconds within the males’s 100m with a sensational nationwide report time of 10.09 seconds, has not fairly delivered as per expectations. During the Commonwealth Games 2026, a hamstring damage affected his marketing campaign a lot that he completed in twenty eighth place throughout all heats, clocking 10.39 seconds and failing to make it to the medal rounds. This time at Aichi-Nagoya, Gurindervir completed fifth within the semifinal with a time of 10.32 seconds, however received a bronze medal within the blended 4×100 m relay with Animesh Kujur, a person he has had nationwide report buying and selling duels with, Harita Bhadra, Sneha Gowda and Abinaya Rajarajan.
Speaking to ANI, he spoke about his resolve to work more durable to win extra medals for his nation, whereas admitting on a really human word that he fell to the ‘stress of profitable’. However, the bronze medal within the relay has liberated him from stress, and the athlete vows to remain the identical to deliver extra glory to the tricolour.
‘It is a matter of nice pleasure for me that I might win a medal for my nation. Moving ahead, we are going to work even more durable and win extra medals for the nation. There isn’t any shortcoming (in method). But generally, you aren’t mentally ready for it. If you overthink or tackle an excessive amount of stress, you can’t carry out the best way you wish to. That is what occurred with me-I took on an excessive amount of stress about profitable. I used to be beneath stress about many issues for a very long time. Now that I’ve received a medal, that stress is gone. Moving ahead, I’ll prepare stress-free and compete stress-free to win medals,’ he stated.
On being in contrast with late athletics legend and the ‘Flying Sikh’ Milkha Singh, Gurindervir feels good about it however doesn’t take into consideration the comparability whereas working.
‘People examine me and affiliate my identify with Milkha Singh, which feels good. But it is not like I take into consideration that whereas working. While working, I solely concentrate on trusting the exhausting work I’ve put in. That is all,’ he stated. (ANI)