Tokyo Olympics 2020: Jinson Johnson believes he can spring surprises and qualify for 1500 m event

Bengaluru: Asian Games champion Jinson Johnson, India's premier middle-distance runner, says he is very much capable of qualifying for the 1500 metres event at the Tokyo Olympics.

"The qualification mark is set at 3:35 for Tokyo but the gold at Rio came in 3:50. The IAAF has made qualifications tougher. Nevertheless, for several years I have been doing things which were not done by my compatriots. I can springing surprises," he told PTI in an interview.

The ace runner was in the city for unveiling of 12th edition of TCS World 10K 'Finisher's Tee'.

Johnson's personal best time is 3:37.86, which he set at Gold Coast CWG, last year.