Athletics Fiji is pleased with the strong progress being made by Fiji’s leading distance runner, Yeshnil Karan, following the emergency appendicitis surgery he underwent on 4 April.
Just three months later, following the mandatory six-week recovery period and a further six weeks of structured training, he has made outstanding progress in rebuilding his fitness. His recovery has exceeded expectations, and he is firmly back on track as preparations intensify for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
His latest performance at the Gold Coast Marathon 5km race on Saturday was another encouraging milestone. Yeshnil recorded 15:00 minutes, finishing 11th overall against a quality field. He ran confidently with the lead group and covered the first 3,000m in a promising 8:43, confirming that his recovery remains well ahead of schedule. As expected, he faded over the closing stages, reflecting the continued rebuilding of the race-specific endurance and sharpness required ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Importantly, unlike many competitors who tapered specifically for the event, Yeshnil raced while maintaining a full training program as part of his preparation for the Commonwealth Games later this month.
Coach Atma Maharaj said the result confirmed that Yeshnil’s recovery remained ahead of expectations.
“Considering where Yeshnil was just six weeks ago, the progress has been extremely encouraging. The strong Aerobic Base he developed before surgery has allowed him to recover remarkably well. There is still important work to do, particularly in rebuilding speed endurance and race sharpness, but he is firmly back on track for Glasgow.”
Yeshnil returned to Brisbane four weeks ago, where he is training alongside several of Australia’s leading middle and long-distance athletes as he completes the final phase of his Commonwealth Games preparation. With just three weeks remaining before the Commonwealth Games, Athletics Fiji is encouraged by Yeshnil’s rate of progress and remains confident that he is building toward peak condition. We look forward to seeing him once again proudly represent Fiji on the international stage.