If you are keen and have queries, please contact Coach Rameshon at 9100 4369 or you can email him at m.rameshon@gmail.com or swift.rameshon@gmail.com. Please refer to website http://flexifitness.com.sg (for more information on him and his programmes)
By M.Rameshon
Bsc (Hons) Degree in Physical Education, Loughborough University (1992-1994)
Masters in Education (University of Western Australia, 2005-2008)
Preeja Sreedharan - From an impoverished upbringing to getting the gold medal
A 28-year-old long distant runner from an impoverished home in Malakkanam village of Kerela has proved that with true courage and iron determination it is not impossible to achieve one’s dream. Her country runner Kavita Raut, bronze medalist for the 5000m also had similar kind of upbringing when she was young.
Picture 1 - Former China's Coach Ma Junren identified young girls who came through poverty and tough upbringing.
Picture 1 - Former China's Coach Ma Junren identified young girls who came through poverty and tough upbringing.
This reminds me of the time when Coach Ma Junren of China, having a handful of girls who could break the world records. Coach Ma Junren explained that these girls were impoverished and came through very hard and tough living conditions.
Picture 2 - Preeja left and Kavita Raut, after coming in first and second, for India, respectively.
Preeja's Part 2 Story
Ranendra, Preeja’s physical education teacher in Rajakand School, became her first coach. He was able to identify that Preeja had potentials at a young age and initiated her into athletics. Later on, she moved on to Alphonsa College, Pala, and it was her next step to developing her athletics career as the institution promoted sports to a great extent.
Picture 3 - Most of the fight for the Indian girls, earlier on, came from Japan's Kayoko Fukushi
Preeja's memorable feeling came when she got a job at the railways. This indirectly must have made Preeja worry less of a secured career and could have made her focus her attention on running itself. 
My frank opinion is that during the race, which you can see from the video, Preeja seemed to be relaxed and not intimidated by big names. Towards the last portion of the race, one is able to see her determination to get the gold by using sheer willpower. “I stuck to my coach’s instructions. He told me to stick to my style and not to bother about what the opponents were doing. I was confident about the medal as I was doing very well in training.”
Picture 4 - Coach Nikolai Snesarev, from Belarus, is Preeja's coach
One of the strategies he used is to be at the Games place two weeks ahead of the race date.
Preeja also credited her coach Nikolai Snesarev’s training and planning for the success. “We were here two weeks before the event, and that was the key to our success.”
Picture 5 - An excellent personal best in 5000m for Preeja and Kavita Raut.
My analysis of the 5000m race - A good lesson to learn.
Earlier on, the Indian girls were running a relaxed, tolerable and controlled pace as their main concern was to run close to the Bahrain runners, although they had a watchful eye over Japan's Kayoko Fukushi. However, a sudden and surprising surge by Ethiopian-born Bahrain runner, Mimi Belete, made Preeja and Kavita to be caught off-guard. Mimi, at the last 100m, had a gap of about 15 metres. Seeing these, the Indian runners used all their might to win back the lost ground, but all was too late. By the time Preeja and Kavita came close to overtaking Mimi, the closest Preeja could come to Mimi was about a metre.
From my analysis, Preeja could have been a little more alert, especially when she could see Mimi going off, she should have stayed with Mimi at all cost. By a sudden surge, the Indian girls were a bit slow to react may have caused the gold medal to go to Mimi. The closing up of the gap at the last 100m by Preeja was phenomenal but it was all too late. Hence, the next time, it would be a good idea to be aware and respond immediately, rather than a wait and see game, especially at the last portion of the race.
However, the consolation came as Preeja's and Kavita's time of 15min 15.89sec and 15min 16.54sec were personal best times. Mimi Belete from Bahrain did 15min 15.59sec. The three girls timing were much faster than the Commonwealth Champion Vivian Cheruiyot by around 39sec.
Conclusion
Hence, given the time, if Preeja continues like this and train and race consistently, one day she may end up a world-beater.
By Narayanan
He also has a Coaching group and he trains them on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7pm at Botanic Gardens. Those interested can call him at 91004369 for coaching assistance, to improve performance. There is also personal training that he does for many in a week. You can e-mail him at swift.rameshon@gmail.com.
Note:
By Narayanan
Rameshon has taught in Hwa Chong Institution, plus several schools, and Republic Polytechnic as well. He has won many accolades and he was awarded Merit Award for 1991 marathon performance in breaking the national record of Singapore, at that time. He has made 22 male athletes do a marathon in sub-3hrs. He has made 7 female runners do sub-4 hours for the marathon, as well. He was inducted to the ‘Roll of Honour’ by the then College of Physical Education, organised by Singapore Olympic Academy, in 1998, for breaking the National record repeatedly 4 times, till he did 2hr 24min 22sec).
He also has a Coaching group and he trains them on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7pm at Botanic Gardens. Those interested can call him at 91004369 for coaching assistance, to improve performance. There is also personal training that he does for many in a week. You can e-mail him at swift.rameshon@gmail.com.
