New Delhi: Having recovered from a groin injury, which had laid her low for most of last year, ace discus thrower Krishna Poonia says she is now geared up to defend the gold she won in 2010 Delhi CWG in what could be her last hurrah after a successful 10-year international career.
Poonia, who is leaving for United States on Friday for two-and-a-half month training cum exposure stint ahead of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, says she is 100 per cent fit now and expecting to be in peak form during the July 23-August 3 event.
"I am now 100 per cent fit and ready for the tough season ahead with the CWG and Asian Games coming up. In my United States stint, I am looking to further build my strength and a few international events before Glasgow," Poonia said.
"I have never felt so good in the last two years after suffering an injury following London Olympics. It could just be a defining season for me. I have become the first Indian woman individual gold medallist in CWG and I want to add to that history by defending my title in Glasgow," Poonia, who will train under 1972 Olympics gold medallist Mac Wilkins at Chula Vista in California till mid July, said.
Poonia, who will turn 32 next month, said she may think about her future after the Incheon Asian Games, to be held in September-October.
"I am not becoming any younger and 2016 Olympics is two years away. I have not decided as yet as to whether I would think of going for Rio 2016. So, I will think over my future career after the Asian Games. I will be able to know by that time whether I should continue till 2016," she said.
"I have been in the international circuit since 2004 and I have achieved so many laurels for the country in the last 10 years and now I feel I can do the country proud for one more time," she said.
Poonia has not had an international competition since July last year and a national event since August last but she said she did 60m at training and she should pick up.
"I am doing 60m plus at training and I am picking up. You cannot start doing your best so soon after suffering from a serious injury. I have three months in hand as I have my event in Glasgow on August 1. I feel there is enough time to prepare and defend my gold," said the Railway employee, who will be looked after by her husband-cum-coach Virender in the US.
She said the Ayurvedic treatment and accompanying physiotherapy in Kerala last year had done wonders to her career as it was only after that she could regain her fitness.
"I would say it was a god send for me that I received Ayurvedic treatment in Kerala last year. The accompanying physiotherapy treatment also helped me a lot. Had there not be that treatment stint in Kerala, I would not have been in this position today," she said
Poonia, who holds the national record of 64.76m, said she chose to train under Wilkins at the Olympic Throw Centre at Chula Vista in California because of the facilities there and similar climatic conditions to that of Glasgow.
"My husband looks after the technical aspects but the Chula Vista Centre's plus point is that I had trained under Wilkins in 2008 and 2012 and the weather conditions there are similar to that in Glasgow."
If Poonia returns to her best, her fight for gold in Glasgow could be against former world champion Dani Samuels of Australia, who returned to her best in nearly four years in a recent national meet where she threw 66.81m.
Poonia said that she was not intimidated by the recent big throw by Samuels, who did not take part in the 2010 CWG due to an injury.
"I am not bothered. She may be a former world champion (2009 Berlin) but she stood 12th in London, while I was sixth.
It is all about the form on that particular day of the event and I am confident that I can defend my gold medal," she said.
After Poonia won gold in 2010 CWG, Samuels, then reigning world champion, had challenged the Indian for a prize-money winner-take-it-all one-on-one competition at a mutually agreed venue. However, the proposed clash between the Commonwealth Games champion and world champion had never happened.
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