JOSHI sisters— Sanjana and Snehal, did the city proud by winning silver medals in their maiden international triathlon and duathlon events recently. In the recently held South Asia Championship, which was held at Pokhra in Nepal early this month, Sanjana and Snehal, both from Miles and Milers secured podium finishes and also became contenders for the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games due to take place later this year. Addressing the media, Ultra Cyclist and world record holder Dr Amit Samarth informed that Sanjana, 16, clinched the silver medal in the South Asia Championship in triathlon.

 

The triathlon comprises 750 metres of swimming, 20 kms cycling and 5 kms running.In duathlon, the athlete has to run 5 kms, cycle 20 kms and then again run 2.5 kms. Sanjana, a Std XII student of Somalwar Nikalas, completed the distance in 1 hour 10 minutes and 8 seconds to finish as the second best among other participants from Japan, Kazakhstan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Austria. In the Duathlon Cup, 19-year-old Snehal, a 1st year Mechanical student of Government Engineering College, won the silver with a timing of 1 hour 6 minutes and 56 seconds. Similarly, in the Asian Triathlon Cup, both the sisters finished in the top 20 bracket.

 

Sanjana finished 8th with a timing of 1 hour 10 minutes and 8 seconds and Snehal finished at 12th spot with a timing of 1 hour 11 minutes and 45 seconds. Dr Samarth said, “both the athletes were selected by Indian Triathlon Federation after completing the Super Sprint Distance in stipulated time at Chennai. Sanjana finished second while Snehal finished sixth.” Their medal winning performance helped Joshi sisters secure spot for the Indian trials for Commonwealth Games in Birmingham from July 28 and for Asian Games, which is going to be held at Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China in September. “Both are now rated athletes of Indian Triathlon Federation and have a good chance to make the Indian team for Asian Games and CWG,” Dr Samarth, who is founder of Miles and Milers Endurance Academy and Director, ProHealth Foundation and India Pedals, said confidently.