ABP EXCLUSIVE | Athlete Arokia Rajiv Overpowers Covid Scare & Mental Hurdles To Punch Olympic Ticket

Arokia was part of a gold-winning 4x400m mixed relay team and he settled for a silver medal in the men's 4x400m relay at the 2018 Asian Games held in Jakarta

Tokyo Olympics 2020: Indian sprinter Arokia Rajiv

Chennai: The coronavirus pandemic has hit many sections of the society but with Tokyo Olympics around the corner the sports fraternity in the country was badly impacted. Carrying chinks in armoury, the Indian contingent has been displaying unflinching grit to make it to the Olympics and Tamil Nadu's Arokia Rajiv is one such example.

Arokia along with his men's 4x400m relay team Muhammed Anas, Amoj Jacob, Naganathan Pandi and Noah Nirmal Tom made the cut to Tokyo Olympics by clocking 3.01.89 in the selection trial.

The 30-year-old relay runner has moved to the National Institute of Sports in Patiala from Tamil Nadu's Trichy just ahead of lockdown imposed.

"For the last one year I couldn't go home and the scenes here in the institute were horrifying. As sportsmen were getting tested positive for Covid, I have taken an oath to keep myself safe. It's been quite some time since I spoke properly to my teammates," Indian Sprinter Arokia Rajiv told ABP Live.

Arokia was part of a gold-winning 4x400m mixed relay team and he settled for a silver medal in the men's 4x400m at the 2018 Asian Games held in Jakarta.

This is Arokia's second Olympics as he flew to Rio in the 2016 Summer Games but got disqualified from the race. Taking a cue from the previous failure, the sprinter said that he is optimistic about meeting the expectations this time in the Olympics.

"We are expected to bring a medal from the Olympics and I am sure we will clinch one for our country for sure this time," the Tamil Nadu sprinter said confidently.

When asked about his daily regime in the institute, he said, "Now, our daily routine is like being in a small bubble. I have been practicing for six hours a day — three hours morning and three hours in the evening. Doing work out in my room itself, not talking much to people, stay at bay from people due to the covid scare. All this was mentally disturbing and at times I felt really low and depressed but now the Olympics qualification has been a respite from a lot of negativity. I really feel happy and all set to take the onus of big responsibility."

Mental strength plays a crucial role in a sports person's life and despite many barriers in his way, Arokia makes a great leap in his career and he hopes to make the country proud by saluting the national flag while standing on an Olympic podium. "I want to make a podium finish at this Olympics," the 30-year-old sprinter signed off.

Meanwhile, on Monday evening the Athletics Federation of India finalised a 26-member-contingent in Athletics for Tokyo Olympics.