Having tasted international success last month, it was easy pickings for S.S. Sneha at the Karnataka State Senior Athletic Meet here on Sunday.
The sprinter, a 4x100m relay silver medalist at the Asian Athletics Championship, outclassed the competition at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, winning the 100m event with a timing of 11.52s.
The 27-year-old stated that the feeling of real competition creeps in during international races. “There is not that much competition here in state-level tournaments, so there is no special mindset when I run here,” Sneha told Sportstar.
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“I don’t have the same level of mindset at the State level when compared to international events. At international tournaments, I have the mindset of a tiger because I have the ‘India’ badge all over my jersey,” Sneha said.
She currently holds the joint meet record for the women’s 100m at 11.3s, set during the 2024 Karnataka State Senior Athletic Meet. When asked if she believes that her record is safe, she said, “No one’s record is permanent. Youngsters coming in will easily beat the record if they do well in practice, and if their mindset is good. Maybe next year I might break my own record.”
Sneha stated that the main focus now shifts to the 2026 Asian Games, which will be held in Japan. “The Asian Games next year is the main competition I’m focusing on. I’m not at my peak yet. For now, I’m just maintaining good form and giving each race my maximum,” she said
