Gopi chasing Asian Games glory and National record

Olympian Gopi Thonakal now has a singular obsession — interruption the long-standing National grounds successful marathon.

Shivnath Singh’s Jalandhar Mark of 2:12.00 has stood the trial of clip for 48 years and continues to elude the elite marathon runners successful the country.

The 37-year-old Gopi came agonisingly adjacent to breaking the grounds erstwhile helium clocked 2:12.23 astatine the Valencia Marathon successful December 2025. He was connected people but cramps by the 36km people slowed him down and helium missed mounting a National grounds by a whisker.

“If not for the cramps successful my calves, I would person breached the National grounds successful Valencia. I was disappointed. But it (national record) has kept maine motivated and my imagination is to interruption it earlier I retire,’’ said Gopi from his grooming basal in Udhagamandalam.

Gopi got different accidental successful the New Delhi Marathon successful February this twelvemonth but finished 2nd (2:13.12) behind Kartik Karkera (2:13.10). Gopi, Kartik and Man Singh punched their tickets for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games by achieving the Athletics Federation of India’s (AFI) qualifying people (2:15.04).

“Qualifying for the Asian Games was my main nonsubjective astatine the New Delhi marathon. The information that 3 of america qualified from the aforesaid contention showed however competitory it was. The aggravated rivalry among the 3 of america has been mutually beneficial, pushing america to execute better. It is bully to person institution successful a large event, arsenic we tin enactment arsenic a squad and airs a superior situation to runners from Japan and China,” said Gopi, a erstwhile Asian champion successful the event.

Having qualified for the Asian Games, Gopi wants to interruption the National grounds there. “I reckon I person to bash thing beneath 2:09 for a podium decorativeness if the contention is beauteous fast. But sometimes the contention whitethorn beryllium dilatory and decorativeness successful 2:15. I consciousness I americium susceptible of doing a sub 2:10. My assemblage is successful bully signifier and I americium grooming hard. It would beryllium bully if I get a accidental to vie successful 1 oregon 2 marathons earlier the Asian Games,’’ said Gopi, who participated successful the Rio Olympics.