Suresh a star in making

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The marathon and the 50km walk may be the most gruelling events in athletics, but nothing is more taxing technically than the 110m hurdles.

Those who wish to master the event must negotiate 10 hurdles — each placed at a height of 1.067m — at high speed.

The 110m hurdles is a demanding race in which a small error can prove costly. Rhythm is critical to success, as is controlled pace.

Another crucial technical area is clearance. It must be optimum because jumping too high can affect stride pattern and, consequently, timing.

A. Suresh of Tamil Nadu nailed the 110m hurdles title at the national open athletic championship in Chennai last week with a storming run, notable for its aggression as well as smoothness.

The 22-year-old from Melur, near Madurai, ran so confidently that he seemed oblivious to his fellow competitors.

“I knew I was going to win the race. My mind went blank as my eyes were fixated on the hurdles. My coach had asked me to focus only on what I had to do. He told me that I was only going to race against the electronic clock.

I just carried out his instructions. His words of wisdom coupled with an unshakeable faith in my ability won the gold medal for me,” Suresh, who looks every inch a modern youth, said.

The task at hand wasn’t easy for Suresh as he was trailing National Games gold medallist J. Surendhar until the final hurdle.

But the pride of Melur was able to summon a last-ditch push to edge out the leader and cross the line first.

Surendhar and Prem Kumar followed Suresh for a Tamil Nadu 1-2-3. A. Raghu Pandian, Suresh’s coach, was at the venue to celebrate the gold.

Suresh’s father and elder brother also joined the victory party. It was one happy family at the Nehru Stadium.

Suresh has been one of the rising stars in the hurdles. After winning a bronze medal at the open nationals in 2011, he claimed the top prize in this year’s inter-state meet at Hyderabad.

Now he has the gold at the open nationals to complete a double. Suresh clocked 13.95 at the inter-state race to become the first Tamil Nadu athlete to go under 14 seconds in the high hurdles.

“Without the guidance of my coach and the support of my parents, I wouldn’t be here. Mr Raghu Pandian’s knowledge is immense for a physical education teacher working in a government school.

His mere presence at the track energises me. My father doesn’t earn much but he spends beyond his means to help me develop into a top athlete,” a visibly emotional Suresh said.

The hurdler said he would achieve a lot more if he gets a government job and private sponsorship. Sooner than later his national gold medals would fetch him a government job. But he needs more financial support if he has to make mark at the international level.

Suresh speaks with so much confidence that no hurdle seems too high for him. “I’m a firm believer in the saying: Nothing is impossible. I will qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

My immediate target is to win a medal at next year’s Asian championship in Chennai. I have done it at the nationals in my backyard and I hope I can also achieve at the continental meet,” he said.

Raghu Pandian says his charge can scale greater heights. “He has the talent to justify his confidence. Besides, he works his heart out in training.

Athletics isn’t only about raw power. Psychology also plays an important role. That’s why I keep telling Suresh that he is a winner,” he added.