Cuban high jump legend Javier Sotomayor said, “Now I know what we need in Cuba.”
Dr. Shrikrishna Sharma
New Delhi. Cuban legend Javier Sotomayor praised the facilities at the Jawaharlal Nehru (JLN) Stadium here, including the Mondo Track and the newly built SAI Fitness Center. Sotomayor jumped 2.45 meters in Spain in 1993, a record he holds. He is the only person to have cleared the 8-foot barrier. Cuban Javier, who won a gold medal at the 1992 Olympics, was accompanied by Palestinian middle-distance runner Mohammed Dwaider, who recently competed at the Tokyo World Championships. He spoke with Indian para-high jumper Sharad Kumar, Indian javelin star Sachin Yadav, and Russian javelin coach Sergei Makarov, who currently trains Indian javelin throwers. 58-year-old Sotomayor, who visited India for the second time, praised the JLN facility, saying, “I’m really happy to be back in India and I love India. The Mondo track at the JLN Stadium is excellent. It’s of excellent quality for achieving good results.” He added, “Indian athletes are improving every time. Today, at the world level, they already have a very high quality in the javelin throw. I hope they will excel in other athletics disciplines in the coming years.” Sotomayor added, “In the next 10 years, we want to build a stadium as big as this in Cuba. Now we know what’s needed.” Palestinian athlete Mohammed Dwaider hoped to compete at the JLN Stadium someday. “It’s my dream to come and compete in a place like this,” the 24-year-old said as he stepped onto the track. “I’m very happy to be in India and I want to train here, compete a lot, and set national records for my country.” Two-time Paralympic medalist Sharad Kumar described his meeting with Sotomayor as unique, saying, “He is an icon for every high jumper, and I have been following him since I began my high jump journey. It was a privilege to meet him here in India and exchange knowledge.” In a heartwarming gesture, Sharad also connected Sotomayor with fellow Indian high jumper Praveen Kumar via FaceTime, ensuring they both had a chance to interact with the legend. (Sports Editor)
photo : sai meediya
