RANCHI: Shivaji Parashuram experienced a dramatic turnaround at the National Senior Athletics Federation Competition held at Birsa Munda Stadium. On the first day, he finished second in the 10,000m race, which would have qualified him for the Asian U23 meet. However, immediately after crossing the finish line, he collapsed due to severe dehydration and had to be carried off the track by officials. It took him some time to recover, and he was later hospitalized. To compound his misfortune, he was disqualified for stepping off the track, an action likely caused by disorientation from dehydration.
Despite this setback, the 22-year-old from Belavatagi village in Karnataka's Haliyal Taluk showcased remarkable resilience on Monday morning. He raced to victory in the 5,000m event, securing his place at the Asian U23 meet with an impressive timing of 14:14.43. Speaking after the race, Shivaji expressed his relief and outlined his immediate plans. "I need to take care of the injury and allow my body to recover properly. I've been moving around a lot over the past month, so now it's important to prepare better and give my body time," he said.
Reflecting on the challenging 10,000m race, Shivaji noted the extreme humidity as a major factor. "The humidity was very high, and for long-distance runners that makes a big difference. I felt comfortable until around the 9km mark, but the final kilometre was extremely difficult. I was completely exhausted and even became unconscious." This time, however, he ensured there was no repeat of those issues by adopting a different strategy after discussions with his coach, Ajith Markose, at Reliance. "We worked on his hydration plan and made sure he was drinking water during the race. After 2km, we ensured he took fluids, and he did the same after the third kilometre. I think that made the difference this time," Markose explained.
In addition to the strategic changes, Shivaji credited the support he received from fellow runners, particularly long-distance runner Seema, who won the women's 5,000m title. "Seema didi has been a huge support. She's always there for me. Whenever I feel something is not right, I go to her and she helps me sort things out," said Shivaji, who is also an Asian U-20 5,000m silver medallist. Interestingly, he has faced dehydration issues before, though not as severe. "It happened during a 10K race in Bengaluru, where I finished the race walking," he added.
Despite the strong comeback, his coach is keen to maintain a cautious approach. "We don't want to overload him or place too many expectations on him, as that can be counterproductive. We plan to continue with the same approach without making any major changes," said Markose. "He may compete in one or two Indian Athletics Series events and then aim to achieve a personal best at the U-23 Asian Championships. There's a strong chance he could win a medal." If that happens, it will be a remarkable turnaround for the young athlete.
