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Indian athletes pack up after Rio while their rivals find new highs
NEW DELHI: Post the Rio Olympics, there has been a lot of talk about planning for the future — a systematic approach to nurture athletes with potential to become
NEW DELHI: Post the Rio Olympics, there has been a lot of talk about planning for the future — a systematic approach to nurture athletes with potential to become medal winners on the big stage. But going by how some of our athletes seem to be cooling their heels when the best in the world in their respective disciplines are back in competition, things hardly seem to be “systematic” or “planned”.
For Indian athletes, once the Olympics are done it is time to put their feet up. Not so for the rest of the world’s professionals who carry on until the season ends.
Lalita Babar, the national record holder in women’s 3000m steeplechase who did well in Rio by qualifying for the final and finishing 10th in a quality field, was conferred the Arjuna Award on Monday. Over the weekend though, the gold medal winner in her event in Rio, Ruth Jebet of Bahrain, was back on track. The Kenyan-born athlete set a world record at the Diamond League meet in Paris on Saturday, beating a quality field, including a few top finishers from the Games.
The bronze medal winner in the race was US record holder Emma Coburn, who won bronze in Rio as well.
For athletics, the Olympic Games, though the biggest event of the year and a focal point for preparations, is not the final event of the season. In fact, the Rio Games is right in the middle of a busy season comprising the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF) events.
The rest have shaken off the fatigue from Rio to compete again. There are two more Diamond League meets this year — in Zurich on September 1 and in New York on September 3.
For Babar, though, Rio was her last track race for the season. For that matter, the others too seem to have finished their season. HT approached the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) to understand why Indian athletes stay away from regular international competitions when it is clear that competing against a competitive field will only benefits them? The AFI chose to pass the buck. CK Valson, secretary of the AFI, blamed the national distance-running coach for women, Nikolai Snesarev, saying it was the coach’s job to look beyond the Olympics and plan.
“The coach should have thought of it. We have given a free hand to him. Whatever facilities he asks for, we provide him. Since he has been doing well we don’t interfere in his plans,” Valson said.
Valson acknowledged that top Indian athletes would gain valuable experience if they compete more on the European circuit. But for that, they will have to improve their current personal bests.
