Distance runner Lalita Babar, who created a piece of history in Beijing yesterday by becoming the first track athlete from India to reach the final round in the IAAF World Championships, says her excellent timing in the heats gave a big boost to her confidence for the final.
"Getting to the final was a great achievement. The timing in the heats also gave me a lot of confidence," said Lalita who finished eighth in women's 3000m steeplechase final by clocking 9:29.64, according to a release from JSW Sports, which supports her.
The timing in the final was, however, slower than the new national record that the 26-year-old reigning Asian champion from Satara in Maharashtra had set in the semifinal heats (9:27.86).
"In the final I was very clear that I wanted to run the race on my own terms. I wasn't going to be overawed by the other athletes. According to coach Nikolai (Snesarev), I have been running very well in the last two months and my plan was to do just that," Lalita said.
Only two other Indian athletes -- both from field events (long jumper Anju Bobby George and discus thrower Vikas Gowda) -- have finished better than Lalita in a World Championship.
"When I lined up for the 3000m steeplechase final, I was enjoying myself. The whole walk from the indoor warm-up area to the main track, the packed stadium and the company of some of the world's best steeplechasers was a wonderful feeling. I would not say I was not nervous, but it was just the usual pre-race nervousness," she said.
