Asian Games 2018 | I am happy that two Indians won gold and silver, says Jinson Johnson

Asian Games 2018 | I am happy that two Indians won gold and silver, says Jinson Johnson

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Jinson Johnson, who won silver in the 800m event behind compatriot Manjit Singh reckons that he felt overjoyed that two Indians were able to get on the podium even though he missed out on a gold medal. However, Johnson was victorious in the 1500m event where he won gold with a timing of 3:44:72s.

Indian athlete Jinson Johnson, who participated in the 2016 Rio Olympics, set a new national record in the 1500 metres race by breaking a 23-year-old record of Bahadur Prasad at this year’s Gold Coast CWG. He followed that up with a gold and a silver in the 1500m and 800m events at the recently concluded Asian Games in Indonesia. But Johson, who specialised in the 800m event, admitted that it was unfortunate to not win gold in the 800m but he was glad that at least two Indians made the podium instead of someone else.

“Yes, 800m is my pet event and definitely I would have loved to win gold in it. So, in a way I am disappointed but I am happy that two Indians won gold and silver instead of other countries winning them.

“Moreover, I am not surprised at all that Manjit won the gold as there is no big difference in timing between him and me. In the past few years, in the National Championships, he has been my main competitor. I knew if I can win, he (Manjit) can also win,” Jinson told PTI sources,

Manjit ran a personal best of 1:46.15 while Jinson clocked 1:46.35. Earlier this year, Jinson had broken legendary Sriram Singh’s 42-year-old record of 1:45.77s during the National Inter-State Championships in June in Guwahati when he clocked 1:45.65s. 

“I felt a bit tight at the final stretch and could not preserve myself for a final burst which Manjit did. But it is all right, I am happy with my silver in the. At this big stage, anybody can win any race. I was not thinking particularly about Manjit but was thinking about all the other competitors, that nobody should overtake me (in 1500m),” said the 27-year-old Kerala athlete.

The Kerala-born athlete revealed that he hoped to better his timing in the  September 8-9 IAAF Continental Cup in Ostrava, Czech Republic where he will run for Asia-Pacific team. Only two top athletes from four regions — Europe, Africa, Americas and Asia-Pacific — will compete in each event in this international season-ending competition.

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