Dhiban out to impress in prepatory event for London Olympics

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T. DHIBAN Raj is looking forward to the 12-Hour Walk at the St Paul Hill in Malacca on Saturday.

The youngster, training under the watchful eyes of former international R. Mogan, is keen to gauge his time for the 50km distance in the event.

Mogan, who won the gold medal in the Chiangmai SEA Games in 1995, said a 50km walk was an event in the London Olympics next year.

“I would like see Dhiban’s time in the 50km during the 12-Hour walk. Except for the Olympics, there are no major competitions for Dhiban next year, So I felt it would be appropriate for him to go for the 50km walk,’’ said Mogan after a training session at the National Sports Council (NSC) training centre in Bukit Jalil recently.

Young hopefuls: (from left) V. Dewin Roy, Anipoobharathi and Dhiban training at the NSC.

Dhiban, who won a silver medal in the 20km walk in the Malaysian Open this year, was not considered for the recent SEA Games in Jakarta. The Malaysian Amateur Athletics Union (MAAU) had picked In Teoh Boon Lim and Lo Choon Sieng for the SEA Games.

Choon Sieng won the gold medal in the 20km walk but Boon Lim, who was the defending champion, finished fourth.

Dhiban, who has a personal best of 1’34.00 in the 20km, said he has been training diligently has been concentrating on his endurance for the 12-hour walk.

“I have been consistently covering 40km daily. I have clocked around 3’40:00 and I should be able to complete the 50km within five hours.

“If I can clock that time, then I am on the right track to London,’’ said Dhiban, who has teammate B. Anipoobharathi for company in the 12-Hour Walk.

The 19-year-old Anipoobharathi has been impressive in local competitions. In the 2010 Malaysia Games in Malacca, he was sixth in the 20,000m walk. In this year’s Malaysian Open, Anipoobharathi was placed sixth in the 20km walk.

Mogan said Anipoobharathi had the potential to excel in the walks events.

“Both Anipoobharathi and Dhiban will be able to support each other during the 12-Hour Walk. While clocking an impressive in the 50km will be Dhiba’s priority, Anipoobharathi will be keen to cover a good distance in 12 hours,’’ said Mogan.

Former international C. Sathasivam, a former national 5,000m and 10,000m champion, also joined Mogan to support the walkers.

“I am impressed witb Mogan’s commitment in coaching the youngsters. I am also prepared to help him in guiding the youngsters,’’ said Sathasivam.

The 12-Hour Walk is organised by Race Walkers Association of Malaysia (RWAM) and will start at 8pm on Saturday and end at 8am the following day. About 800 participants, including foreigners, have registered for the event.

Meanwhile Dhiban, who won the 20,000m walk in the 2010 Malaysia Games in Malacca, was the overall winner in the third and final leg of the RWAM junior development walk circuit in Kuala Lumpur recently.

Dhiban clocked 50:04 to win the gold medal in the 10,000m in the men’s Open category.

Results

Men

Open (10,000m) : 1. T. Dhiban Raj 50:04; 2. Muhammad Khairk Harith Harun 50:14; 3. Mohd Azizi Anuar 52:36.

Boys

Under-18 (3,000m): 1. R. Eswaran 16:42; 2. Zubair Siddique Akhbar Santhran 16:55; 3. Muhamad Akram Ismail 18:33.

Under-15 (2,000m): 1. R. Premkumaar 10:06; 2. Teh Wai Kit 10:22; 3. K. Yesotharan Raaj 10:41

Under-12 (1,200m): 1. V. Dewin Roy 7:32; 2. Rahmad Budiman Irja 8:20; 3. Gamal Arif Fikri 8:26.

Women

Open (3,000m): 1. Norliana Muhd Rusni 16:00; 2. Song Sie Chee 16:28; 3. Lee Shiew Keng 18:50.

Girls

Under-18 (3,000m): 1. A. Premila 18:33; 2. N. Nantini 19:39; 3. Yap Hui Shan 20:41.

Under-15 (2,000m): 1. Aina Fadlin Syahmina Abas 10:49; 2. Syazana Afifa Abdul Rahman 13:26.

Under-12: 1,200m): 1. Celeste Ho Wing Sum 7:52; 2. Nur Fadihilah Nasrul 8:05; 3. Syharifah Asiyah Syed Sahim 8:35.