Why Olympian Jinson Johnson is in no rush to hit the track
The middle-distance runner will skip the Indian GP series and will compete only in May. Jinson Johnson is hoping to make the Olympic cut.
Indian middle-distance runner Jinson Johnson is pacing his return to the track.
Out of action since last year largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 29-year-old Rio Olympian will not be competing in the Indian domestic season that started recently.
The Indian Grand Prix series is currently underway and the Federation Cup is to be held next month but Jinson Johnson’s focus is elsewhere.
“The main event this year is the Olympics. So to prepare for it we must do things well with good, quality competition,” Johnson told Sportstar. “Instead of immediately rushing into competition and participating in the Indian GP and the Federation Cup, I’m planning to participate in competitions in May and June to prepare for the Olympics.”
Jinson Johnson aims to compete in the National Inter-State Seniors Athletics Championships late in June in Bengaluru and also in a few events abroad. He is currently training in Bengaluru, focussing on his fitness, in hopes of qualifying for the Olympics.
“The (Tokyo) Olympics qualification standard in the 1500m is 3:35.00s, which is better than the national record so you need to get quality competition to achieve that,” Johnson explained.
The national record in the 1500m is held by Jinson Johnson. He clocked 3:35.24s in Berlin in September 2019 and needs to shave at least 24 seconds to make it to Tokyo. Qualifying for the Games, however, is also possible through world rankings.
“There are 45 spots (in the 1,500m), so there is a chance of getting in through the world rankings. We cannot say for sure, but there is some hope there,” Johnson said.
Of the 45 spots in the men’s 1500m, 29 athletes have already qualified for the Olympics basis the cut off time, leaving only 16 places vacant for world rankings positions. Johnson is currently ranked 59 and will need to move up at least 14 places before the qualification period ends on June 29.
Jinson Johnson, a 2018 Asian Games gold medallist in the 1500m, competed at Rio 2016 in the 800m. He didn’t get past the heats.