Cricketer Harinder ready to jump into his next challenge

By Siti Alya Nadiah Ismail

KUALA LUMPUR, June 4 -- Having etched his name in the Guinness World Records for the highest single-leg standing jump of 1.384 metres (m), national cricketer Harinder Sekhon is hungry for more recording-breaking feats. 

After his May 23 effort erased Canadian Evan Ungar’s 1.346m mark to be listed in the official Guinness World Records website, the 30-year-old wicketkeeper has now set his sights on beating his own national record in the double-leg standing jump by targeting a height of 1.54m.

Harinder had previously made his way into the Malaysia Book of Records on March 15 with a height of 1.397m in the double-leg standing jump.

On his latest feat in the single-leg standing jump, the mathematics teacher at the Maz International School here said that he wanted to test how far he could go through sheer hard work and determination.

“I’m not the kind of person to give up once I’ve set my mind on achieving something. There were bad and hard days... those were really difficult times. 

“I used to ask myself ‘why am I doing this’ but, knowing what is at stake (the world record), I just kept going. I kept telling myself that I really want to put my country on the world map and make my country proud,” he told Bernama today. 

Harinder said one of his biggest challenges he faced was having to juggle between training and work, apart from sticking to a super clean diet, which meant turning down fast food, soft drinks and desserts.

However, he is now comfortable with eating healthy and intends to continue doing so as he eyes his next targets.

“I had to stay mentally and physically tough throughout the four to five months period when I was training really hard for this record while also juggling with my schedule as a mathematics teacher during the day and fitting in cricket training on every odd day. 

“I also practise yoga in the morning for 20 minutes before heading to work from 8 am until 3.30m. Then, I focus on my strength, power and jumping workouts from 4 pm to 7.30 pm. On Sundays, I will just swim,” he explained. 

-- BERNAMA