After setting NR, runner Afsal seeks tactical boost

Late last month, when Mohammed Afsal Pulikkalakath ran 1:48.33 to finish fourth at the National Federation Senior Athletics Championships in Kochi, he had lingering doubts about his technique and potential.

- Shantanu Srivastava

NEW DELHI: Late last month, when Mohammed Afsal Pulikkalakath ran 1:48.33 to finish fourth at the National Federation Senior Athletics Championships in Kochi, he had lingering doubts about his technique and potential.

He had started the season with a win at the National Games in Dehradun in February and followed it up with a second place at the Indian Grand Prix 1 in Bengaluru in March. The timings, however, were disappointing—1:49.13 and 1:47.09.

The Federation Cup was his third successive below-par run (1:48.33) in as many outings, and so Afsal approached his coach Ajith Markose at the Reliance Foundation centre in Bengaluru.

"We went through a few of my races and the coach concluded that I was slipping tactically. Timing the acceleration and pacing yourself are crucial in 800m, and the coach helped me in those aspects," Afsal said.