Date:17/07/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/07/17/stories/2003071700892200.htm

Sport - Athletics

'Travel fatigue led to poor performance'

NEW DELHI JULY 16. The seven-member Indian team that competed in the third World Youth athletics championships at Sherbrooke, Canada, returned here on Wednesday.

The coach, J. S. Saini, attributed the below-par performance of a majority of the team members to travel fatigue and lack of acclimatisation.

The team that took the Delhi-London Montreal route had a five-hour halt at Montreal before leaving for Sherbrooke and eventually, five members of the team had to compete the night after they reached the Canadian venue.

Mr. Saini explained that low temperatures following rains hampered high jumper Hari Shankar Roy, who was expected to do well.

The Bengal boy failed at 1.95m and was eliminated in the qualifying round. The gold eventually went for 2.11m while Roy has a personal best of 2.12m.

Pinki Parmanik came in for praise from the coach.

The only one among the Indians to make the next round, Pinki clocked two personal bests, 2:10.51 and 2:09.84 in the 800m before going out in the semifinals.

"She should be an asset when the Asian junior meet comes around next year,'' said Mr. Saini.