Where cricket is the only game recognised by sponsors, and athletes barely make the profile cut, the Mittal Champions Trust (MCT) has come forward and signed up national triple jump record-holder Renjith Maheswary for the next five months. The sponsorship will cover expenses of his training in the US for the Beijing Olympics.

National jumping coach SS Pannu sees it as a god-sent opportunity. Renjith is among the country’s top three athletes who have achieved the qualification mark for Beijing. World bronze medallist in women’s long jump Anju Bobby George and discus thrower Vikas Gowda are the others .

Renjith will be the second Indian athlete to train in the US. Earlier, women’s discus thrower Krishna Poonia had gone to the US. Poonia is training with Mac Wilkins, former world champion in discus.

For the next five months Renjith’s training will be supervised by Irving Boo Schnexnayder. Irving is head of the US Track and Field jumping programme. Irving guided Walter Davis to the triple jump crown at the Helsinki World Championships in 2005.

Pannu, who will also accompany Renjith, was elated at the prospect of training in the US. “I hope we can reap the benefits of the trip,” he said.

MCT administrator Manisha Malhotra disclosed that Renjith will be training in New Orleans till the Olympics. “Renjith will be training in a better environment. Hope it helps him improve his performance,” she said.

Renjith, who is currently training in Patiala with Pannu, is expected to leave for the US in the last week of this month.

... contd.