Tintu Luka has been diligently groomed at the PT Usha School of Athletics in Koyilandy in Calicut district since 2002 and the 13th Asian Junior Athletics Championships in Jakarta happens to be her crucial test. “Luka is capable of running a fast time at this time of the year. I am expecting her to clip at least three seconds of her best time. If there is a tough competition, she may clock 2:02 seconds,” says Usha.

On eve of the departure of the 35-member Indian squad for the junior Asian meet, spoke about the plans she has in place for Luka, who achieved qualification standard of 2:09 seconds set by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) for the forthcoming 12th IAAF World Junior Athletics Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland, beginning from July 8.

Taking into account the results of the 2006 World championships in Beijing where the eventual winner in the women’s 800m Olga Cristea of Moldova had clocked 2:04.52, Usha is confident. “It will be great if we get a medal in the world meet,” says Usha but is quick to add that 2012 Olympics is what she is aiming for.

Coach of the junior development programme Suresh Babu too has high hopes. “We have good chance of winning medal in the women 800m event. Luka is capable of winning the gold,” says Babu, who also rates the throwers in the Jakarta-bound squad high. The coach has also pinned high hopes on Bindu Simon Rajam, the other Indian runner in the 800m event.