Lyngkhoi Binning's chances of defending his Mumbai Marathon title may have increased after multiple-time champion and last year's runner-up Ram Singh Yadav suffered a hamstring injury ahead of Sunday's eighth edition of the Mumbai Marathon. Yadav, though, claimed he is fit to complete the 42.1 km stretch
Lyngkhoi Binning's chances of defending his Mumbai Marathon title may have increased after multiple-time champion and last year's runner-up Ram Singh Yadav suffered a hamstring injury ahead of Sunday's eighth edition of the Mumbai Marathon. Yadav, though, claimed he is fit to complete the 42.1 km stretch.
However, instead of rejoicing, now that his competition has eased out, Binning was concerned about his fellow teammate. "Ram Singh is like my brother, we always share the room. I am concerned for him after my coach told me that he has had a hamstring injury.
I hope he recovers on time. It doesn't matter whether he (Yadav) is competing or not, I am here to give my best," Binning told SUNDAY MiD DAY on the sidelines of a pasta lunch organised for elite athletes at a five-star hotel on Saturday.u00a0
BeliefBinning clocked 2:20:12 to pip favourite Yadav 2:21:02 during the last edition of the Mumbai Marathon. Binning, however, is confident of an encore today.
"I believe I can repeat my performance once again. My target is also to complete the race within 2:18 time, which will help me qualify for the 2012 London Olympics.
Cool climate will be a big advantage in achieving it," he said. He is also aiming to come close to his personal best of 2:17:33 by being in the company of foreign athletes. "Beating a foreign athlete is a big challenge.
There's a lot of difference in the way they train, but I will try my best to run with the foreign athletes," he concluded.
