Monday, Oct 21, 2002
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Sports : General
By Our Special Correspondent
Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, Mr. Kalmadi said the giant strides made by Indian sportspersons in the Olympic disciplines during recent times were evident at the recently concluded 14th Asian Games in Busan. ``At first, it was the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, from where our athletes brought home a record haul of golds. And now, despite the fact that the competition was much more tougher in Busan, our athletes were able to come up with an improved display and ensure the best Indian performance since the 1982 Asian Games held in New Delhi. ``This gives us confidence to look up at the 2004 Olympic Games to be held in Athens quite optimistically. We have already had a preliminary discussion with the top athletes regarding this and the IOA would soon be coming up with a plan on how best the Indian contingent could be prepared for the Athens Olympics,'' Mr. Kalmadi said. The IOA, he said, was yet to receive any formal communication from the Olympic Council of Asia regarding the stripping of the medals won by Sunita Rani at Busan, after the 1500m winner and 5000m bronze medallist was tested positive for the banned substance, Nandralone. ``Every step to clean up the menace caused by doping would be taken. The Amateur Athletics Federation of India has already set up a commission under its vice-president, Mr. Salwan to look into the whole episode and submit a report within the next week. Based on this report, we shall be acting against those involved.'' Terming the incident as `unfortunate', Mr. Kalmadi said this alone should not be allowed to overshadow the brilliant performances that athletes like K. M. Beenamol, Anju Bobby George, Neelam Jaswant Singh and Bahadur Singh came up with in Busan. ``It was due to their performances that we were able to finish second behind China in athletics at the Asian Games. And if are to ignore their heroic deeds now on the basis of one incident, it would only help in demoralising them.'' Paying glowing tributes to Kerala for spotting the talent in Beenamol, Anju, Bobby Aloysius and K. M. Binu, Mr. Kalmadi said the State should be concentrating to contribute more to the National pool. He said his discussions with the Chief Minister, Mr. A. K. Antony this morning had been quite fruitful and that the latter had promised to provide an increased allocation for sports-related activities in the next year's budget. Besides this, the Chief Minister has also promised to provide sufficient funds for the re-laying of the synthetic track at the University stadium here in the next year's budget, he added. The IOA president also reiterated that India would be bidding to host the 2012 Olympic Games and the 2010 Commonwealth Games. The Afro-Asian Games will be held in New Delhi from October 23 to November 4 next year. Later, attending a reception, accorded to him by the Kerala Sports Council, Mr. Kalmadi handed over a cheque of Rs. 1 lakh to Mr. Shylus, father of Shiny Shylus who was killed in a road accident during the last month's State cycling championship in Malappuram, on behalf of the KSC. The Kerala Sports Minister, Mr. K. Sudhakaran, the KSC president, Mr. C. Mohanachandran, other key KSC officials, representatives of the various State sports associations, sportspersons and coaches were present.
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