Arjuna has inspired me to do better: Preeja

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She might have achieved the Arjuna but for Preeja Sreedharan it is not the culmination of her dreams.

The humble long-distance runner, who started off from the muddy tracks of Rajakad Government High School is determined to better her performance in the upcoming IAAF World Championship beginning August 4 in Daegu, South Korea.

“The Arjuna has given me boundless joy and at the same time, it has urged me to better my personal best. I’m looking forward to doing my best in World Championships,” said the 29-year-old Guangzhou Asian Games gold medalist in 10,000 m.

The honour was bestowed on her based on her last two year’s performance, which includes a gold and silver in Guangzhou, the best achievement by an Indian athlete in the games. “I know the Olympics or even the World Championships will be a tough task and I have to reduce my timings further, but now I’m more confident and ready to work harder,” said Preeja.

However, the Palakad-born girl cannot forget that joy filled moment on Friday when, after her routine training at the SAI Centre in Bengaluru, she received a call from her annayi (brother), telling her that she was from then on an Arjuna.

“I could not say anything, I just thanked God, but when I thought my mother (Ramini) and brother (Pradeep) were not with me to share the wonderful feeling I was a little sad,” she added.

After wiping the gentle tears that rolled down her cheeks, Preeja called her coaches. Her first coach Ranendran was lying on a hospital bed, suffering from rheumatic pains when his beloved disciple called. “I still remember her as a little girl who trained under me at the Rajakkad High School. She is still the same, humble and full of respect for her teachers. For a moment I was relieved of all pain,” said Ranendran.

Meanwhile, for Thankachan Mathew, her coach at Alphonsa College, Pala who spotted Preeja’s true talent that lay in long distance running, recalls the day when he saw her at a state school meet and invited her to train under him.

“Before she started training under me, Preeja used to run the 800 and 1,500 m but I realised she was capable of running longer laps and insisted she take up the 5,000 and 10,000 m. She truly deserves the honour,” said Thankachan.

Meanwhile, Preeja is back to reality, she pulls her tracksuit on and enters the tracks. Before striding away she says, “The prayers of all my dear ones have led me this far, please pray that I do well at the World Championships.’’