Sudha Singh travelled to the Rio Olympics on the back of a handful of commendable performances. She had clocked 9:31.86 seconds in the 3000M steeplechase at the Federation Cup in May and then followed it up with a national record time of 9:26.55 at the Shanghai Diamond League meet.
But what transpired at the Olympic Stadium in Rio was not something that Sudha had hoped for. The runner from Uttar Pradesh failed to qualify for the final, finishing a disappointing 30th overall with a timing of 9:43.29.
"It was really disappointing given the hard work I had put in," said Sudha, speaking on the sidelines of a press conference to announce the Bengaluru Marathon here on Friday.
"I had trained very hard. But maybe because of the fever (which was later diagnosed as H1N1) the feeling wasnt good. I didn't actually know whether it was because of the fever or something. I just wanted to run," said said explaining the reason behind her dip in performance at Rio, where her compatriot Lalita Babar stole the show with a national mark.
Sudha's troubles had started even before the Olympic cauldron was lit at the Maracana. She had qualified for the marathon initially but wanted to qualify in steeplechase as well. Though her coach Nikolai Snesarev was not in favour of this decision, the hard task-master had to finally bow to Sudha's desire after she met the qualifying standard at the Federation Cup.
"He was not in favour of this and he used to make me train for the marathon. But as a result of that, my steeplechase timings improved and I could perform well. Though I qualified in steeplechase and then broke the national record, the coach hadnt decided on which race I should compete in. In the end, he asked me to go for steeplechase," she stated.
With Snesarev now set to continue as the Indian coach for middle and long distance runners, Sudha will have to spend more time with someone who she thinks follows a military regime.
"Believe me, when I say it's difficult, it's really difficult. Probably that was why we left the national camp in Ooty for a month (prior to the Olympics)," she said.
"But I know that for good performances, it's needed. The discipline he demands is a must. Otherwise you can't be any good. You have to suffer to achieve something," said Sudha whose focus now is on the Asian Championships next year in Ranchi.
![]( "Ready to run: Former international athlete Reeth Abraham flanked by former swimming ace Nisha Millet (left) and steeplechaser Sudha Singh on Friday. DH photo")
Sudha Singh travelled to the Rio Olympics on the back of a handful of commendable performances. She had clocked 9:31.86 seconds in the 3000M steeplechase at the Federation Cup in May and then followed it up with a national record time of 9:26.55 at the Shanghai Diamond League meet.
But what transpired at the Olympic Stadium in Rio was not something that Sudha had hoped for. The runner from Uttar Pradesh failed to qualify for the final, finishing a disappointing 30th overall with a timing of 9:43.29.
"It was really disappointing given the hard work I had put in,” said Sudha, speaking on the sidelines of a press conference to announce the Bengaluru Marathon here on Friday.
"I had trained very hard. But maybe because of the fever (which was later diagnosed as H1N1) the feeling wasn't good. I didn’t actually know whether it was because of the fever or something. I just wanted to run,” said said explaining the reason behind her dip in performance at Rio, where her compatriot Lalita Babar stole the show with a national mark.
Sudha’s troubles had started even before the Olympic cauldron was lit at the Maracana. She had qualified for the marathon initially but wanted to qualify in steeplechase as well. Though her coach Nikolai Snesarev was not in favour of this decision, the hard task-master had to finally bow to Sudha’s desire after she met the qualifying standard at the Federation Cup.
"He was not in favour of this and he used to make me train for the marathon. But as a result of that, my steeplechase timings improved and I could perform well. Though I qualified in steeplechase and then broke the national record, the coach hadn't decided on which race I should compete in. In the end, he asked me to go for steeplechase,” she stated.
With Snesarev now set to continue as the Indian coach for middle and long distance runners, Sudha will have to spend more time with someone who she thinks follows a military regime.
"Believe me, when I say it’s difficult, it’s really difficult. Probably that was why we left the national camp in Ooty for a month (prior to the Olympics),” she said.
"But I know that for good performances, it’s needed. The discipline he demands is a must. Otherwise you can’t be any good. You have to suffer to achieve something,” said Sudha whose focus now is on the Asian Championships next year in Ranchi.
But what transpired at the Olympic Stadium in Rio was not something that Sudha had hoped for. The runner from Uttar Pradesh failed to qualify for the final, finishing a disappointing 30th overall with a timing of 9:43.29.
"It was really disappointing given the hard work I had put in," said Sudha, speaking on the sidelines of a press conference to announce the Bengaluru Marathon here on Friday.
"I had trained very hard. But maybe because of the fever (which was later diagnosed as H1N1) the feeling wasnt good. I didn't actually know whether it was because of the fever or something. I just wanted to run," said said explaining the reason behind her dip in performance at Rio, where her compatriot Lalita Babar stole the show with a national mark.
Sudha's troubles had started even before the Olympic cauldron was lit at the Maracana. She had qualified for the marathon initially but wanted to qualify in steeplechase as well. Though her coach Nikolai Snesarev was not in favour of this decision, the hard task-master had to finally bow to Sudha's desire after she met the qualifying standard at the Federation Cup.
"He was not in favour of this and he used to make me train for the marathon. But as a result of that, my steeplechase timings improved and I could perform well. Though I qualified in steeplechase and then broke the national record, the coach hadnt decided on which race I should compete in. In the end, he asked me to go for steeplechase," she stated.
With Snesarev now set to continue as the Indian coach for middle and long distance runners, Sudha will have to spend more time with someone who she thinks follows a military regime.
"Believe me, when I say it's difficult, it's really difficult. Probably that was why we left the national camp in Ooty for a month (prior to the Olympics)," she said.
"But I know that for good performances, it's needed. The discipline he demands is a must. Otherwise you can't be any good. You have to suffer to achieve something," said Sudha whose focus now is on the Asian Championships next year in Ranchi.
Sudha Singh travelled to the Rio Olympics on the back of a handful of commendable performances. She had clocked 9:31.86 seconds in the 3000M steeplechase at the Federation Cup in May and then followed it up with a national record time of 9:26.55 at the Shanghai Diamond League meet. But what transpired at the Olympic Stadium in Rio was not something that Sudha had hoped for. The runner from Uttar Pradesh failed to qualify for the final, finishing a disappointing 30th overall with a timing of 9:43.29.
"It was really disappointing given the hard work I had put in,” said Sudha, speaking on the sidelines of a press conference to announce the Bengaluru Marathon here on Friday.
"I had trained very hard. But maybe because of the fever (which was later diagnosed as H1N1) the feeling wasn't good. I didn’t actually know whether it was because of the fever or something. I just wanted to run,” said said explaining the reason behind her dip in performance at Rio, where her compatriot Lalita Babar stole the show with a national mark.
Sudha’s troubles had started even before the Olympic cauldron was lit at the Maracana. She had qualified for the marathon initially but wanted to qualify in steeplechase as well. Though her coach Nikolai Snesarev was not in favour of this decision, the hard task-master had to finally bow to Sudha’s desire after she met the qualifying standard at the Federation Cup.
"He was not in favour of this and he used to make me train for the marathon. But as a result of that, my steeplechase timings improved and I could perform well. Though I qualified in steeplechase and then broke the national record, the coach hadn't decided on which race I should compete in. In the end, he asked me to go for steeplechase,” she stated.
With Snesarev now set to continue as the Indian coach for middle and long distance runners, Sudha will have to spend more time with someone who she thinks follows a military regime.
"Believe me, when I say it’s difficult, it’s really difficult. Probably that was why we left the national camp in Ooty for a month (prior to the Olympics),” she said.
"But I know that for good performances, it’s needed. The discipline he demands is a must. Otherwise you can’t be any good. You have to suffer to achieve something,” said Sudha whose focus now is on the Asian Championships next year in Ranchi.