Joseph and his Olympic dreams

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In the last five years, Joseph G. Abraham has been the frontrunner in 400 m hurdles in the country. But the 31-year-old athlete is not contended with resting on that laurel alone.

Recently, Punjab hurdler Kuldev Singh was suspended after testing positive for performance enhancing drugs and the incident is, in a very peculiar way, a setback for Joseph, because Kuldev’s fierce rivalry with him, even beating Joseph to clinch gold in the Ranchi National Games last year, has motivated Joseph to increase his own standard.

“In the last few years, he was the only athlete who gave me a challenge in India and I really liked that because without a good rival, you can never improve. He outran me in national games but I wasn’t disappointed because only a quality opponent can push you forward,” said Joseph.

Last week, when the State recognised his 11-year long national career with its highest honour, the G.V. Raja Award, Joseph was nursing a hamstring injury but unlike his contemporaries who have long back hung up their boots, he is raring to get back on tracks and prepare for the London Olympics.

“Like any Indian athlete, I wish to make a mark in the Olympics. I will have to do my best,” said Joseph, who holds the national record of 49.51 seconds.

The resident of Mundakayam won gold in the 1998 State School Games held in Chalakudy, his first memorable triumph in the event while a trainee of the famous Thomas Master of ‘Koruthode’. He had also gone on to win silver in the national schools that year.

Now, Joseph is the only Indian who has clocked less than 50 seconds at least 10 times in his career. Yet, he is aware that he will have to clock below 48 seconds to qualify for the Olympics.

“One needs endurance, power and technique to run and we can easily know the difference while running alongside world class athletes. If we put in our best, we can run with them till the last hurdle, but they simply outclass us in the last stride,” he said.