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Twins win medals at US track meet

By Ebenezar Christopher Gnanasekhar

TWIN BROTHERS Ajay Elijah Shanmugam and Vijay Elisha Shanmugam share a gift for running. They recently participated in the 2011 United States of America Track & Field (USATF) Michigan Association Junior Olympic Outdoor Track & Field Championships. In the June 18 event held at Livonia, Michigan, Ajay won gold medals in both the 400 m and the 800 m events, while Vijay won silver medals in the 100 m and 200 m events.

The twins first won medals at the 51st National Inter-Primary School Track & Field Championships 2010 in Singapore. This year, in the 52nd National Inter-Primary School Track & Field Championships, Ajay set a new national record for the 600 m sprint event. He broke the previous record with a time of 1.5228 min. Vijay achieved a timing of 13.3 sec for the 100 m sprint event.

Ajay and Vijay picked up running at the age of four, winning about 40 medals and trophies in all. The two-time Singapore national champions have their father, Mr Emmanuel Shanmugam, a former athlete and decathlon champion, as their personal coach, as well as a school coach Mr Tan Wei Leong. They are currently Primary 4 students in Ang Mo Kio Primary School, and their family worship at Ang Mo Kio Tamil Methodist Church.

The Rev Ebenezar Christopher Gnanasekhar is the Pastor at Ang Mo Kio Tamil Methodist Church.