Sumariwalla hopes Renjith Maheshwary makes it to Incheon

Incheon: India's chef de mission and former national men's sprint Adille Sumariwalla is hoping that triple jumper Renjith Maheshwary clears the fitness trials and make it here for the 17th Asian Games, starting tomorrow.

"Renjith is a freak jumper. He can spring a major surprise and land you a medal. If he is fit enough, I'll be glad to send him because he can win you a medal," said Sumariwalla here today.

"Every athlete needs to be treated differently and you can't judge them by the same yardstick. Renjith can be bad today but can be splendid the next day. So if he is reasonably fit, I will send him," he added.

Sumariwalla feels that the Indian athletics squad can match if not better the number of medals won by the country at 2010 Asian Games. India had won 12 medals at Guangzhou, including five gold.

"In athletics, we will get same range," he said, adding he expected the ratio to be 50:50 between track and field events.

Sumariwalla said the coach for middle distance running, Nikolai Sneserev has done good job with the women runners in a short span of time.

"Even while time was short, Nikolai has got them to get going," he pointed out.