Date:04/04/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/04/04/stories/2006040409602000.htm

Sport - Athletics

Shalin carries on the legacy of Kerala icons

M.R. Praveen Chandran

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Her wiry frame and affable facade may well mask the fire within that has made Shalin Joseph worthy enough to carry on the legacy of M.D. Valsamma and P.T. Usha in the intermediate hurdles.

The 400m hurdles Federation Cup gold early this year has only confirmed the popular belief that she is the best bet among the present lot of athletes from the State who can go places.

The sub-60 performance (59.69s) in New Delhi may not create any ripples at the international level but it was a significant landmark for the girl. It also confirmed the steady progress she has made this season. At Delhi she shaved off nearly a second from her personal best (1:0.58s) which was set two weeks earlier during the 8th College Games in Thiruvananthapuram in February.

Proud coach

Shalin's performance certainly would make her coach Thankachan Mathew proud. He was one who always believed in her potential. The second year BA Economics student of the Alphonsa College, Pala, was the cynosure of all eyes during the College Games where she won a golden treble by winning the 200m, 400m and 400m hurdles events.

There was a buzz around the Alphonsa camp before the 400m hurdles event.Shalin was expected to break the record and she didn't disappoint her coach nor her team-mates. She clocked (1:0.58s) to better Vijila's old mark of 1:01.6 under energy sapping conditions.

However, the icing on the cake came in the form of the 200m gold. Shalin was running the event for the first time and only to earn extra points for her College.

Surprising herself

But she surprised herself and many others when she beat the favourite and reigning all-India inter-university champion V.D. Shijila. Though she won that race effortlessly, Shalin is not tempted to try it again in the future. To her the 400m hurdles remains the favourite event.

As the youngest child of Joseph, a farmer in Pazhayarikandam in Idukki, Shalin had shown some promise by wining medals in athletics in the school competitions.

Her interest in athletics was accentuated by the decision of the Kerala Sports Council to start a new sports hostel at Calvary Mount HS in Kattappana where she was studying.

Shalin on her part is ready to undertake the rigours of training that will take her to the higher level and smiles at the likely stress that she has to undergo to reach there.