400m silver-medallist Dharun Ayyasamy hopes Asian Games success can help him find a job

Asian Games silver-medallist Dharun Ayyasamy, who recorded a timing of 48.96 in the men’s 400-meter event hopes that the success can help him land a government job so that he can support his mother.

The 21-year-old was raised by a single mother after his father’s demise at a very young age.

“My father passed away when I was eight years old. My mother has made a lot of sacrifices for me. I owe her this. She is still earning just Rs 14,000 per month as a teacher,” the 21-year-old from Tirupur in Tamil Nadu told the Press Trust of India.

The silver at the intercontinental event saw him record his best ever timing as he surged with full pace in the final 100m to stand on the podium.

Also Read: Asian Games 2018: Sudha Singh, Dharun Ayyasamy wins silver in athletics

“I just wanted to run my race. I did not give importance to others. My pace in the first half was not very different from the pace in the second half. Really happy to better my national record,” said the soft-spoken athlete to the news agency.

He overcame his previous personal best of 49.45 in the Federation Cup in March earlier this year. He had started his training for the event six months in advance and Dharun, who is a second-year college student said that it “helped a lot.”

Meanwhile, Sudha Singh, who also won a silver at the 3000m Steeplechase event informed that she will decide her future at the end of the 2020 Olympics.

“Lots of new girls are coming up in the steeplechase, which is heartening to see. It was not the case earlier. Hope this silver inspires more youngsters,” said the 32-year-old, adding that she now wants to start training for the Olympics.

Also Read: Asian Games 2018: Neeraj Chopra wins historic gold; Neena Varakil silver