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Jalandhar’s Shahbaz steps up for Ironman Triathlon in NZ
Banker doubles up for ultimate test of human endurance at event in Taupo, New Zealand, in March as he trains in running, cycling and swimming
Had Shahbaz Singh Samra not competed in the 10K (about 10km) marathon while he was working with a corporate giant in Mumbai in 2017, the now Jalandhar-based banker wouldn’t have been addicted to running, cycling and swimming.
After that, half-marathons followed by marathons became a routine for 31-year-old Samra, the grandson of former Punjab minister and Congress leader Amarjit Singh Samra.
Be it the Delhi Half Marathon in 2017, the much-challenging Ladakh Marathon in 2019 and the Half-Ironman in Dubai in 2020 (Ironman 70.3), Samra has experienced it all. With rigorous training under Pune-based trainer Dr Kaustubh Radkar, Samra is now eying the Full Ironman event in Taupo, New Zealand, next month.
“I’ve been training hard since April 2021. The pandemic postponed events, but I was lucky to keep training and attain top-level fitness. I had just bought my new bike in March 2020 when the first lockdown happened. Things improved after April 2021 and I’m raring to compete in the full event next month,” said Samra, who believes that the Ladakh Marathon is the toughest challenge.
“Running in difficult terrains in the high-altitude with hardly anyone around, the Ladakh Marathon was one of the most challenging. I aspire to do tougher competitions,” said Samra, who took to running to remain fit. Gradually, it became an integral part of life and he trained hard for the Half Ironman event.
“Coach Radkar is a legend. He’s the best in India. I balance work and training and he guided me,” said Samra. Radkar finished the Ironman Triathlon 33 times, making him the first and only Indian to do so. He was the only Indian to finish the Ironman World Championship at Kona in 2017. “It’s due to people like him that thousands of Indians are now taking interest in Ironman events. I want to compete in the Ironman World Championships and do the country proud,” said Samra, who hopes to qualify for the Boston Marathon, the final destination for all runners, by 2025.
“The last two months have been tight. Despite the weather, I stuck to the training schedule and with about 20 days left this month, my training has become more intense,” said Samra.
