On a hot and sultry day in June 2014, Punjab’s Arpinder Singh smashed the National Triple Jump record by around half a metre, highlighting his transition from junior champion to the country’s best. The very same year, he won bronze in the Glasgow Commonwealth games underlining his potential to challenge the world’s best.
The 22-year old’s medal was only one of three India would win in the Athletics events. Currently training in UK under the Sports Ministry’s lucrative Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), Arpinder is expected to easily match the 16.90 Olympic qualification mark.
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His current training stint didn’t come with its fair share of controversies. Last year, bureaucratic ignorance delayed and eventually crushed his dream of training at the Chula Vista Academy in California. The issue highlighted by the Ministry was the inability to process his Coach S.S Pannu’s application to travel with him.
Now under the guidance of foreign Coach Jonathan Herbert, Arpinder has made a major change in his technique in an attempt to medal at Rio. He spoke to Sportskeeda in an exclusive interview to discuss his Olympic preparations, his unlikely journey into the sport of Triple Jump and the drug epidemic plaguing his state of Punjab. Arpinder is supported by Anglian Medal Hunt
Q. Let’s start at the beginning, when people get into Athletics it’s generally track events, so what motivated you to venture into Triple Jump?
It’s actually funny that you ask because I also started as a 100m runner myself, during my youth days. It was my then Coach who asked me to try out Triple Jump. I tried it out for six months on the side, and realised I got really good at it. So I shifted my entire focus onto that. However, it wasn’t that easy in the beginning.
Q. Could you elucidate on the fact why it wasn’t easy for you at the start?
In 2006, I tried out for the Sports School in Jalaandhar. I gave the trials and actually jumped 11m plus, which for that level is brilliant. However, I wasn’t selected, but I didn’t give up, the entire year I stayed on my own money, of course my family supported me and thankfully I jumped 11.85m the next year to make it. From then on it’s been a constant growth. I won a silver medal at the U-17 School Games with a jump of 13.86, which was a massive rise for me.
After getting better, I trialled for the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Ludhiana, I made it but only as day scholar. This meant all the finances for the year would be again on me. However, it turned out well.
Q. How seamless was the transition from junior to professional for you?
In 2009, I won the Youth National Games, which was my first major achievement, after joining the sport. This also cemented my stay at SAI Ludhiana, so all the expenses were of my shoulder. The next year I won the school National Games. It was a gradual climb, but in 2013 I also broke the 16m mark, this was when I realised, yes I do have a strong future in this sport.
Q. You mentioned on several occasions already that you had to pay from your own pocked during your formative years. Was that a major issue?
Of course, like with every athlete I would say. However, I was very lucky because I had a very supporting father. He himself was a Kabaddi player for the Army Sports Academy. Hence, he always wanted me to get into sport and he supported my fully. Whether I needed supplements, which were worth Rs 10,000 – Rs 15,000 or equipment, he supported me fully. It wasn’t until 2009 that ONGC helped me out a bit. If we look at all the expenses together it costs me Rs 4-5 Lakhs annually. Hence, it has been difficult.
Q. 2014 was your breakout year, you smashed Renjith Maheshwary’s national record and won bronze at the Commonwealth Games. Anything you did differently this year?
No actually, I just focussed on giving my 100 % and the results happened on its own. It was the hard work of all the years before which manifested onto the field. That year was great for me as I could also participate in a lot of international events. It gave me the required exposure to actually get better and fight for top honours at the highest level. Asian Games I was a bit unlucky, but overall it was my best year.
Q. Prior to your UK training stint, bureaucratic issues had stopped your trip to the US. Has that affected your Olympic preparation in any way?
The Sports Ministry officials told me the total cost of sending the Coach would amount to Rs 45 lakhs. They also told me that you would have a foreign Coach and I wouldn’t need my current one. However, it was important for my Coach to be there as he would help streamline the process. He has been training me for a long time and would have helped. They kept delaying on the issue whether my Coach could go or not, and the date finally passed. But, never mind it happens, I have got good exposure in the UK with a world class Coach and also participated in some high ranking tournaments. So, I’m not worrying about that.
Q. How are your Olympic preparations coming along? Has the change in technique affected your results in any way?
See, whenever we learn something new in any field of life, things are bound to take time. I’m changing something I’ve been doing for the past decade or so. Of course it will take time, but by the time the Olympics come I’m sure this will pay more dividend as compared to my previous style. Jonathan noticed some glaring errors in my run up, which has probably been affecting my jump length. That is what I’m focussing on now. As per the Olympics, I’m going to give my 100 % and hope for the best. I hope I win, but what’s more important is the exposure. The exposure I get will help me in my future events as well.
Q. Off late, Punjab has been struggling with a drug epidemic. Do you feel this has affected sport in the region as well?
Most definitely it has, the drugs are being consumed mostly by the youth and the main demographic participating in the sport are the youth so it’s bound to affect them. In my opinion, it’s become too easy to buy drugs, and people are getting addicted at a high rate. This is sending a wrong message to the youth, who are taking it as a part of mainstream culture. It is also present at the grassroot level nowadays, there are youngsters consuming these drugs to participate in the event. I request the government to closely monitor this situation as it is definitely becoming an epidemic.
I would also like to request the government to increase the cash incentive for athletes from the state. We get like Rs 16 lakh for winning gold, but if you go to neighbouring Haryana, a third placed finisher gets more than that. They get Rs 1 crore for winning gold, this will also attract athletes towards sports.
Q. Finally, what are your plans leading up to the Olympics?
I will be going back to the UK for another three or four months and be training with Jonathan again. I will also take part in a few European tournaments to prepare myself for the big occasion. Apart from that I want to stay focussed on being successful at Rio.
