Snesarev's exit affected my performance: Preeja

Asian Games gold medallist long distance runner Preeja Sreedharan, who is yet to secure a berth for next year's Olympics, on Saturday said that the exit of Belarusian coach Nikolai Snesarev affected her performance.

After winning a gold in her pet 10,000m event with a sub-standard timing of 35:56.09 in the 51st National Open Athletics in Kolkata, Preeja said she was struggling to get back to her rhythm since her Asian Games feat with Snesarev no longer guiding her. "It has indeed affected my performance. I wish he was here among us. Our timings definitely would have been better if he was here," Preeja said.

The 29-year-old unassuming Kerala girl had become the toast of Indian athletics after her Asian Games show of 31:50.47 in 10,000m race, a current national record. Preeja, representing Railways, will now have to look for the Olympic qualification mark in the events outside India as the National Open was the last meet in the AFI calendar year.

"We will have to keep training hard and keep ourselves in shape for next year's championships. We are confident of making the Olympics," Preeja said.

It's not only Preeja, but her track rival and friend Kavita Raut, who clinched a silver in the Asian Games, too is struggling to get back to her rhythm.

"There was also a break in continuity after the Asian Games. We need some time to get back into groove. We are trying our best," said Kavita.

"Our target was to get sub 30-mark post Asian Games. But now we have slipped and will have to gain momentum again," she said.

Giving credit for her rise in long distance events to Snesarev, Preeja said, "He was working with us for quite a long time. He was very strict disciplinarian. He could guide us the right way. I'm really missing his presence in Indian camp."

Asked about her sweet rivalry with Kavita, the Railways athlete said, "It's really a healthy competition that helps us improve. At times, she is ahead of me but today I won. But we are really good friends. We are almost equal and competitive while training. It depends on that given day who comes first." Preeja, who trains along with Kavita in SAI Centre in Bangalore, said.