Strength and spirit keep them going in unfriendly environment

By S. Thyagarajan

NAGARCOIL, JUNE 30. Competitive athletics in this country is a painful saga of missed opportunities, misplaced priorities, myopic systematisation and appalling mismanagement of human resources, characterised by intention, innocence and ignorance. Maybe, a semblance of administrative sophistication is evident today but that is hardly sufficient to bridge the wasted years when talent cried out for promotion and protection. Many a flower had withered before they blossomed.

Seven months into the new millennium have not altered the sense of deja vu over the state of Indian athletics. The maladies persist, and, thank god, there is no multiplication. But the malaise, injecting an element of discomfort, distress and depression to genuine practitioners, is apparent indeed. They manifest more alarmingly in the year of the Olympics when every competitor is consumed by the passion to assault the qualifying mark for the Sydney Games.

How much will an athlete gain from the circuit meet on the mud- tracks, however well prepared, needs no veneer of exaggeration. Mercifully, the Madurai leg is postponed, but the uncertainty surrounding this decision must have left many a competitor wondering whether it is worth the while to continue a career in athletics.

All that gibberish of `double periodisation' and spreading competitions to two distinct phases, the first ending in March and the second resuming in July, makes a mockery of preparations in the year of the Olympics and, on a minor scale, for the Asian Track and Field Meet. Here again, the confusion is worst confounded by the misgivings over the dates and venue of this prestigious continental meet.

Phase one included three domestic meets with an international flavour at Bhopal, Delhi and Hissar, followed by the Federation Cup at Lucknow, all conducted on the synthetic tracks minus the required equipment. The athletes braved everything, foul weather, faulty timing and measuring devices and frivolous recording of time and distance by ill-equipped staff. All these negative factors almost decimated the hopes of qualifying for such a marvellously endowed long jumper as Anju Markose in Bhopal, deprived Sunita Rani of a record in 1,500 metres and Rachita Mistry the time in 100 metres to be on par with P. T. Usha at the Federation Cup meet in Lucknow. That the 100 metres sprint was run without a wind-gauge speaks volumes of the inefficiency and incompetence of conduct of high class meets in the Olympic year. Yet, all those in the camp, about 73 in men and 25 in women are in the fray for this meet, obviously attracted by the prize money of Rs.15,000 per event, split into Rs.8,000 for first, Rs.5,00 for second and Rs.2,000 for third.

Monumental must the be mental strength of the star competitors to fight such adversities with a sense of fortitude and spirit. That they continue to stay around, create history despite such unfriendly environment and enjoy what they are doing only proves the depth and intensity of human endurance and ennobling sense challenge to conquer new frontiers.

K. M. Beenamol, the predictable star of this meet, who broke the national mark at Kiev in the quarter-mile sidelining Usha's decade and half mark of 51.61s. and Shakti Singh, whose 20.09m. in New Delhi in shot put stand testimony to the unflappable spirit and dedication. Both have made the A grade from the norms fixed by International Amateur Athletics Association. The third to get into this category is sprinter Rachita Mistry.

It goes without saying that given the appropriate conditions to perform, our top notchers can be as good anyone in the continent, if not in the world. Presently, they project a pathetic picture of unfulfilled hopes and aspirations. However, a committed athletics aficionado is keen to match the strengths of quarter miler Paramjit Singh pitted against P.Ramachandran or to watch in action the national sprint record holder, Anil Kumar. The presence of Lijo David and Jayashankar is likely to add a little more glamour to the 400 metres in which Paramjit Singh holds the record at 45,70s. Neelam J.Singh and Sunita Rani, who have made the B grade norms in discus and middle distance, are among the prominent stars in the fray.

To be fair, it must be admitted that given the constraints of not having the best of facilities, the authorities here under the leadership of Walter I.Davaram, President, and the supervision of Neelasivalinga Swamy, Secretary, TNAAA, have laboured to give as much comfort as possible in the prevailing circumstances. There were anxious faces at the Stadium, which received copious shower last night. But the track is unaffected, and the officials headed by Mr.Dawaram inspected every inch of the ground and supervised the preparations. If there is no further rain, then a smooth conduct is ensured. All the 16 members who participated at the meet in Ukraine are expected to reach the venue only on Friday evening.

Mr. Davaram, ever a sportsman, acknowledged that in the Olympic year such events should not be held mud tracks. He however added how this town has been contributing its share to the promotion of athletics when not many come forward to stage expensive ventures. This the only non-state capital to have hosted a meet almost every year. He said that TNAAA was only fulfilling certain commitment. Paying a tribute to the athletes, Dawaram added that any performance in the present conditions would be far more worthy in competitive value than on the synthetic tracks.

On test tomorrow is not merely the depth and dimension of Indian athletics but the indomitable will and the spirit of challenge of the nation's top rated men and women stars. But Pluvius, the weather God, holds the key.

Events: Men: 100m, 400m, 1,500m, 5,000m, shot put, discus, hammer and javelin; Women: 100m, 400m, 1,500m, long jump, discus, javelin.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Sport
Next     : Aiming for an Olympic berth