Jaipur, Dec 4 (NationPress) When CB Shintomon prepared for the men’s 110m hurdles final at the Khelo India University Games (KIUG) 2025, the audience likely had no idea about his late introduction to athletics or the unexpected path he had taken. Until 2021, he had never set foot on a synthetic track.

His early life was focused on academics, local school football games, and sporadic work in cardamom plantations in his village of Erattayar, located in Kerala’s Idukki district.

A fortuitous moment during a football match altered his life. Coach Baiju Joseph from the Kerala Sports Council Academy recognized Shintomon’s athletic build and untapped potential. Persuaded by Joseph, Shintomon experimented with the 400m and high jump, ultimately discovering his true calling in the 110m hurdles.

In just two years, his growth was remarkable. On Wednesday, at Jaipur’s Sawai Mansingh Stadium, the 23-year-old showcased his rapid development by breaking the KIUG Meet Record with a time of 14.32 seconds, securing gold for Mahatma Gandhi University.

The race concluded with a thrilling finish, as Shivaji University’s Vikas Ananda Khodke (14.516s) and University of Calicut’s Rahil Sakeer VP (14.518s) were separated by mere thousandths of a second.

“This is my first gold at the Khelo India University Games and the competition was intense,” Shintomon shared with SAI Media shortly after his victory. “Participating in such a competitive environment was exhilarating, and winning gold in my debut makes it even more special.”

For Shintomon, this medal holds significant meaning. Coming from a family where his father is a painter earning a daily wage, he lacked exposure to organized sports. He acknowledges that his family is still largely unaware of his accomplishments. “There wasn’t a sports culture at home,” he admitted.

“Even now, my family doesn’t fully grasp my achievements, but I owe everything to the support from my college and coach. I’m extremely thankful for their belief in me.”

Despite breaking the previous meet record of 14.40s held by Vikas, Shintomon remains hungry for more. He views himself as a work in progress, aiming for greater heights. Last year, he registered a personal best of 14.18 seconds while winning silver at the All India University Games. This season, he achieved 14.25 seconds at the 64th National Inter State Senior Athletics Championships in Chennai.

His trajectory of improvement fuels his aspirations, yet he realizes the need for even more dedication to chase Tejas Shirse’s national record of 13.41 seconds.

For the young athlete who once labored in cardamom fields to aid his family, the KIUG gold medal symbolizes a pivotal moment. Inspired by this breakthrough, he is committed to maintaining his momentum as he strives to represent India on the global stage.

“My timing was right for smashing the Meet Record here, but if I aim to represent my country, I need to elevate my efforts,” he remarked. “This gold medal will motivate me to push my limits.”

Currently training under Juilius J Manayani at St. Dominic’s College in Kottayam, Shintomon is already envisioning the challenges ahead and is eager to resume training for an action-packed 2026 season.