"I started running on the road since there was no track available," - With eye on Paris 2024 qualification, Krishan Kumar recounts athletic journey
Lack of support, finances, or infrastructure did little to deter Krishan Kumar who took to the village roads in an attempt to excel as a half-miler.
The persistence paid off for Krishan, who finished atop the podium in the National Inter-State Athletic Championships in 2021 before adding a couple of more gold medals to his kitty in 2022 and 2023.
A silver at the Asian Championships last year was the icing on the cake even as the athlete from Haryana registered his personal best time at Bangkok.
During an exclusive interaction with Sportskeeda, Krishan Kumar recounted his journey as an athlete while also revealing that Jinson Johnson and Manjit Singh Chahal inspired him to raise the bar.
"In my village, there were no facilities for track and field as such but I was really interested in athletics – and, in particular the 800-metre race. Therefore, I started running on the road since there was no track available," said Krishan as he turned the clock back on his formative years.
"I then got into the army through the normal army selection process during my 12th standard exams and continued my running training for around a year and a half. I did not have any financial support before joining the army but once I did things improved," he stated.
"I joined the army in 2016 and clocked 2:06 during a trial run at the Jat Regimental Centre. This was the beginning of my journey at the top level." he added.
Krishan, who then used to clock 2 minutes for the 800-meter run, got in touch with Indian athletic stars Manjit Singh Chahal and Jinson Johnson. Manjit Singh had made India proud by winning gold in the 2018 Asian Games while Jinson Johnson represented India at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
"I came in contact with Manjit Singh Chahal of Haryana who won gold in the 2018 Asian Games in the 800-metre event and Jinson Johnson who won silver. I was inspired by Manjit Singh and Jonson Jonhson - at the time I used to clock around 2 minutes for the 800-metre run," said Krishan.
"It was Jinson Johnson who then held the national record for the 800 meters which I wanted to better," he explained.
After reigning supreme at the Nationals in the 800-metre event, Krishan Kumar worked on improving his speed ahead of the 2023 Asian Championships in Bangkok.
"I won my first gold at the Nationals in 2021 with a timing of 1:48 and since then I have been winning gold in the Nationals in 2022 and 2023 as well," said the 26-year-old athlete with delight.
"I recorded the third-fastest time by an Indian ever" - Krishan Kumar
Krishan also gave an insight into how he closed in on his milestone in Bangkok with a string of good performances at the Shizuoka International Meet in Japan and then at home in India.
"Just before the Asian Championships in Bangkok, I had clocked 1:46:96 in Japan. Post that, my run was timed at 1:46:83 in India which was followed by another where I managed a time of 1:46:17 (at the 2023 Nationals)."
Krishan Kumar proudly recollected the names of the athletes who had set records in the 800m event before adding his name to the illustrious list.
"In 1976, Sri Ram Singh Shekhawat clocked 1:45:77 which was followed by Jinson Johnson, who registered a time of 1:45:65 in 2018. I became the third fastest runner in 2023 by virtue of the time I registered at the Asian Championships," he said.
"At the Asian Championships, I clocked 1:45:88 which is the third fastest timing by an Indian ever," Krishan Kumar stated with pride.
Krishan Kumar is eyeing a berth at Paris 2024 and hopes to qualify for the Olympic Games by taking part in upcoming events.