FROM a dormitory to five-star accommodation with an Olympic village in between! Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon half marathon (21km) defending champion Surendra Singh has made the shift in quick time all within a year.
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Surendra Singh relaxes in his hotel room at The Trident (above) ahead of Sunday's Mumbai Marathon but last year (below) the half-marathon winner had to stay in a dingy lodge near the CSTu00a0PICS/ Bipin Kokate |
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The Beijing Olympics 10,000m runner, who stayed in a dormitory opposite CST station for the last Mumbai Marathon is now put up at the five-star Trident hotel. "Last year was a horrible experience. It was really not expected. But this time I am really happy. I had to work very hard for it though," Surendra told SUNDAY MiD DAY on the eve of the sixth edition of the mega race.
Surendra's name did not figure in the elite athletes list sent by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) last year. AFI selects top six full marathon runners (men and women) and top three half marathoners, who can avail of five-star accommodation. "It is not that I wasn't a good runner last year. I was winning marathons and other meets. But I don't know why I wasn't in the AFI's top athlete list," said the 31-year-old.
"I had threatened to skip the event next year (2009). But I enquired about the facilities before coming this time. Last year, we were promised better accommodation not necessarily a five-star. I think there was some miscommunication," added the armyman.
So, with better facilities this time around, Surendra is expecting to improve his personal best of 1 hour and three minutes.
"I have high hopes for Sunday. I want to better my performance. But my main goal is to do well in the 2010 Commonwealth Games (in Delhi). That's my ultimate target.
"There is no competition now. So, the Mumbai Marathon will be a good warm-up for the gruelling season ahead," said the Uttarakhand resident.
The Trident was one of the hotels under siege by terrorists for nearly three days last November, but there was no hint of fear in Surendra's voice. "Everyone knows what happened here. I was glued to TV but I am not scared at all."
If any terrorists come now, I will gun some of them down," he joked.
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