A different kind of coach

HE IS a coach with a difference. And the difference lies not in the ability of Suresh Gujarathi, all of 71 years young, to spot talent and nurture them, but in identifying the talent with the event.

``Some of the athletes after going through the Australian package (a series of tests done to fit the boy/girl into a particular event) based on their aptitude were earmarked - good for sprints. But despite two years of languishing on the tracks showed no results. I converted them according to their physical structure and ability and lo... have had them winning All India Inter varsity and junior meets in style,'' said the senior athletics coach Gujarathi.

Classic example of this has been the young Vittal Rathod of Maharashtra. Gifted with a sturdy structure, Vittal just 18, was identified for sprints. But the youngster not making much progress, coach Gujarathi noticing the high knee action, shifted Vittal to hurdles. And the rest as they say is history.

Vittal in the recent junior National athletics championship, came in strongly to finish second in the 400m hurdles for boys under- 20.

``The seeds I planted have bloomed into trees'' said the genial coach with reference to such present day stalwarts like national chief coach Bahadur Singh, U.P. Director of Sports Vijay Singh Chouhan and a host of others, were groomed in athletics by Gujarathi, who was the Sports Manager of Telco in Jamshedpur.

But then to begin with Gujarathi took to athletics, as a fall back. Six feet plus and with broad shoulders, Gujarathi begun his sports career as a medium pacer and represented Maharashtra along with Dani, Nadkarni and Nana Doshi. But the pitfalls in a team game were many as the strong lad of 24 realised after guiding the Maharashtra state kabaddi team to the National runner-up spot in 1954. It was then that Gujarathi made his switch to athletics and his physical attributes swayed him towards javelin. And success came to this born sportsman almost instantly and with a record to boot.

Gujarathi in his first year in athletics hurled the javelin to a state record distance which stood for a good period. However it was his switch to coaching and lectures that won accolades for Gujarathi.

Joining Telco (Jamshedpur) as its Sports Manager was the break that saw Gujarathi making strides. Empowered to sign talented sportsmen and women into its rolls, Gujarathi soon had the best of India's athletics talents under his wing. Uday Prabhu and Adille Sumariwala among others were the ace in his pack while many others went on to justify the faith reposed on them with sterling performances and ruled the national scene for many years.

After 28 years as sports manager in Telco, Gujarathi retired only to be inducted as Sports in-charge at Larsen & Tubro (Mumbai) in a bid to revive the sports in the organisation. The job did not satisfy the urge in Gujarathi who went back to Pune to start a health club - Health Craft.

Besides training the likes of Manjiri Harip (400m hurdles) and Chetana Khondalkar (discus and shot put) Gujarathi put in his all in developing the health gym which today is a landmark in Pune.

Today, the much sought after coach who is in charge of athletics at the Maharashtra Government sponsored Sports Academy at Balewadi in Pune, Gujarathi is still calling the shots. Respected and revered Gujarathi has under him a talented bunch among whom - Vittal Rathod (400m hurdles), Vilas Mali (800m), Nitin Rathod (800m/1,500m) and Rupali Damale (800m/1,500m) are some of the names the coach pins his hopes on.

AVINASH NAIR

Bangalore

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