Legendary runner Manandhar's record is still a distant dream

By Pramod Joshi, Pokhara, Oct. 18: Closing in on the national mark set by Baikuntha Manandhar in the men's marathon is still a far cry for a domestic long-distance runner. 

Despite Nepal finding a new winner in the marathon of the National Athletic Championships held under the 9th National Games on Tuesday, the timing achieved by the podium finishers could not even meet the timing of the 8th National games, let alone the record of Manandhar. 

Legendary marathon runner Baikuntha Manandhar holds the national record of 2:15.03, which is also the South Asian record time in men's marathon. The record was set in 1987 during the 3rd South Asian Federation. 

Anis Thapa Magar became the new champions of the marathon played under the 9th National Games at Pokhara on Tuesday. 

Thapa Magar, who works at the Gorkha Regiment of the Indian Army, left behind the defending champion Krishna Basnet from the start to finish of the men's 42.195km race in front with two hours, 22 minutes and 54 seconds. 

Basnet could not retain his gold, as he was not near his personal best today. He took two hours and 23 minutes and 14 seconds to complete the race behind Thapa Magar. The bronze medal winner Santosh Bikram Bista took 2:30.59 to cover the distance of a marathon.

During the 8th edition, Basnet clocked two hours, 17 minutes and 33 seconds. All the podium finishers in the marathon today could not even come closer to the time of the top two runners of the eighth edition. 

Durga Buda, who claimed the silver medal during the eighth edition, clocked two hours, 18 minutes and 39 seconds. Khim Bahadur Khatri of APF timed 2: 22.90 for the bronze medal. 

After failing to retain the gold, Basnet said breaking the national marathon record is impossible. "Looking at the conditions of Nepali athletics, we cannot imagine the record. Continuing the marathon in itself is a great achievement for Nepali players."

Basnet, who crossed the two hours and 20 minutes barrier on the 8th National Games, was not satisfied with his timing today. "From the start, he was taking the lead. The early mistakes I made deprived me of the gold."

Not even coming closer to the qualifying standard time of the Asian Games and the Olympic Qualifying standard time can again deprive Nepali long-distance runners of their participation in the continental and global event. 

The hullaballoo created by the deprivation of Gopichandra Parki in the Tokyo Olympics is still fresh in the memory of Nepali sports. Nepal selected Parki for the 2021 Olympics for his time 2:18.59. 

He, however, could not make it into the list of the universality quota provided by the International Olympics Council to its national members. 

As the competition was so tough, the lowest next best by world ranking player Tom Groschel of Germany, who qualified for the Tokyo from the Universality, had the timing of 2:12.45. The qualifying standard time for Tokyo Games was 2:11.30.

Basnet said Nepali runners trained in other nations could break the record set by Manandhar. "As they can have proper training and enjoy the proper facility, it is possible those runners can achieve the milestone."

Basnet may have expressed his frustration to lose against the runners coming home on the vacation, but it reflects the sorry state of domestic athletics.

Indian Army Thapa Magar was in Nepal for a Dasain vacation. "As I came to know the National Games is going to be held, I took part in the trial held by Gandaki province and got selected. I am happy to win the National Games Gold in my home city. 

Thapa Magar is the second Indian Army to win the gold medal after Durga Bahadur Budha, who won the 3000m steeplechase with a national record on Monday.  

Forgetting the poor sports administration of Nepal, long-distance runners also need to work hard to raise their bar so that they can fulfil their dream of playing in global events with their heads held high. 

Bindra out of blue wins Women's Marathon

Women's marathon gold Bindra Dhanke Shrestha. Photo - Bikash Dware/TRN

Bindra Dhanke Shrestha was not a gold medal favourite in the women's marathon. It has been just six months since she started her run in the marathon. 

A mother of a nine-year-old daughter Dhanke, who is 36-year old, herself has not believed she would win the Marathon gold. Her Coach Pramila Rijal also had not Dhanke in her mind as a winner. Her clubmate Pushpa Bhandari was a clear favourite at the event. 

To the shock of everyone, it was Bindra, who completed the women's marathon race at the front clocking 2:57.23.  

Another title favourite Bishwo Rupa Budha of the Nepal Army timed 3:00.35 to win the silver and Rekha Bista of Nepal Police took bronze with a time of 3:02.35. 

It was Bindra's first full marathon contest. So her win was not imagined even by her coach. "We have not expected her as the winner," Coach Rijal said after Bindra clinched gold for APF Club. "She had been working hard after shifting to a full marathon. But still, she was not a favourite."

Bindra had hoped to finish in second or third position but winning the race was also unexpected for her. "I have not expected to win the match. Pushpa was expected to win."

She, however, thinks the prayer from her daughter may have worked in her favour. "Before coming to the stadium today, I had a telephone chat with my daughter Luja. My daughter said to me that she prayed for her victory." 

Bindra, who was thinking to quit running, said the win had motivated her to continue in the sport. "Till my body is fit, I will continue my running."

Four records set in athletics

Jayarani Tharu kissed her third gold medal with back-to-back three national records at the track and field of the Pokhara Stadium on Tuesday. Three other records in Athletics were also set today.

Tharu with a 5.58m won the gold with a national record. Nisha Chaudhary of Lumbini Province snatched the silver with 5.49m. Shila Chaudhary of APF with 5.31m took a bronze medal. All the podium finishers had broken the national mark of 5.36m set by Keshary Chaudhary. 

The men's long jump also saw a new record after Salim Dewan won the gold by 7.06m. The last record of 7.09m was in the name of Puspendra Kumar Goit set in 2015. 

Dilli Khatri with 6.98m took silver and Narayan Chaudhary with 6.82m bagged the bronze medal. 

Som Bahadur Kumal of the Nepal Army also wrote his name in the national record book after surpassing the 32-year-old mark set by Asharam Chaudhary in the 400m race. 

Kumal timed 47.95 secs to break the record of 48.32 secs set by Chaudhary during the Beijing Games, in 1990. Ashish Chaudhary of APF with 49.40 secs and Prakash Danuwar of Army with 49.90 secs pocketed silver and bronze medals respectively. 

The women's 400m national record was broken today after Ramita Kumari Thapa of APF raced to gold with 58.10 secs. The last national record of 59.57 secs was in the name of Tulasa Khatri.

Nirmala Thapa (0.14 sec) of the Army claimed silver and Kalpana Shrestha (0.70 secs) of APF picked silver and bronze medals.