BEIJING: At first glance Rajendra Gadekar 8th position among 166 participants in the just ended Beijing international iron man triathlons championships in the South Hairou county near here does not appear to be worth a dispatch.
But as the details of the conditions under which the 24 year old athlete from Pune, in the western Indian state of Maharastra, performed begin to emerge his feat seems destined to be etched as the veritable first chapter of the new sport’s history in India.
Gadekar had no surf skins for swimming in the cold lake Bangi, his bald bicycle had to be refitted before the event and he had not been informed of the international triathlon standard distances of 1.5 km swimming, 40 km cycling and 10 km running until barely six weeks ago.
In India, Triathlon has been conducted until now with one km swimming, 10 km cycling and five km running.
Under such circumstances his timing of two hours, 26 minutes and 46 seconds on Saturday left fellow athletes astonished. After the event, Singapore’s Triathlete Marin Hager presented his own surf skins to Gadekar.
Gadekar’s bare bodied attempt to plunge into Lake Sangi on a particularly cold day following overnight showers had raised several eyebrows and attempts were made to dissuade him from going through.
Gadekar says he could do the 51.5 km course in less than two hours with proper practice. Brad Beven, the Australian who took the gold in the event on Saturday, clocked 1:47.53 while one of the Chinese athletes Jia Wanguan, who finished last, clocked 3:20.46.
‘The international Triathlon union president, Les McDonald of Canada appreciated India’s participation and creditable performance in the event, which is set to be included in the Olympics.
Gadekar was the Lone Indian keeping the Indian colors flying at the Beijing event, in which nearly 25 countries took part. The credit for his participation goes to Anita Sood, who formed the Indian Traithlon federation only this January.
Gadekar said the 40 km cycling event ‘was the crucial item in the Triathlon combination as it allows sufficient time to make up for lost time in the other events and said his participation in Beijing had greatly helped in understanding training requirements. ‘The balmy waters of Juhu or Chow patty in Bombay where Gadekar has practiced and making do with “condemned” types for his bicycle as he could not afford to buy expensive imported gear had him ill prepared for the grueling world standard observed at Being Gadekar, who clocked 24:30 in swimming, 1:15:26 in cycling and 44.227 in running (plus changing time) in his 2:26.46 overall Ming is confident of improving his performance in time for the September 15 world cup in the United States. Beijing was his first exposure abroad.
China and Japan have the most formidable Traithlon teams although neither country was among the medalists at the Beijing championships. Coaches of both teams expressed high appreciation of Gadekar’s feat.
The new sports prospects in India now depend on the federal government’s benevolence towards Anita Sood’s efforts at Promoting daredevils like Gadekar who only thought of the honor of his colors when advised to pull out at the edge of cold, inhospitable waters.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 8, 1990
