Renjith Maheswary to retire after Rio Olympics

Thiruvanathapuram: Former Commonwealth Games bronze-medallist triple jumper Renjith Maheswary on Thursday declared that he would bid adieu to the track after the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Renjith won a gold medal in the triple jump event of the ongoing 35th National Games today with a new meet record of 16.66m.

"I will retire after the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro because I want to spend more time with my family," the 29-year-old said after his gold medal-winning effort at a packed University Stadium here.

The Kerala star has endured a roller-coaster career. His biggest achievements include winning an Asian Championships gold medal in 2007 besides holding the national record until last year.

But he has also landed in controversies owing to a chequered doping past. Renjith had tested positive for a stimulant after the 2008 Beijing Olympics and served a three-month suspension for it.

The punishment came back to haunt him in 2013 when the Arjuna award bestowed on him was withdrawn owing to the furore generated by his doping past.

Renjith is married to national record holding pole vaulter V S Surekha and the couple has a daughter, Jhiya Renjith.