Date:10/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/10/stories/2008101054802200.htm

Sport - Sports : General

It’s a tough grind for the athletes

Nandakumar Marar

— Photo: Vivek Bendre

NOT UPTO THE MARK: Aspirants to the Indian athletics team for the Commonwealth Youth Games have lived and trained in conditions that have left a lot to be desired.

PUNE: Dusshera is a time for prayer and celebrations. For aspiring Indian athletic hopefuls, based in Pune for the Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG) 2008, the mood will turn festive when they move on Friday into the Athletes Village.

For the last two weeks, the glamour associated with athletics at CYG 2008 concealed the grind these young Indians went through to make the grade, staying along with National coaches in an apartment block located off NH4 near the training base at Shiv Chhatrapati Sports City, Balewadi.

No basic facilities

It was a strange world they lived in during the hours between morning and evening training sessions. The plush, newly-constructed apartment blocks did not have fans in most rooms occupied by athletic bodies, while food was cooked and eaten in the parking space meant for cars.

Sport was about remaining focussed for 83 athletes and 20 coaches staying at Pearl Apartments since September 25, confident that the honour of wearing the National colours will wipe away the difficulties endured in the trials phase.

Rest and recovery in the cool nights was bearable for these hardy men, women and coaches. These temporary residents made the most of arrangements by placing metal beds near huge glass windows to catch the wind. Contributing to the spartan living conditions was the absence of television but the friendship that developed in the course of hours spent chatting may last a lifetime.

Watching the young men and women at breakfast time in the car park was like viewing India in all its diversity, tough throwers from the north, lithe sprinters and jumpers from the south and sinewy distance runners from the west and east.

Though there was anxiety writ on the faces, as to whether their names would be on the shortlist of athletes scheduled to move into the Athletes Village, there was no heartburn as these young men and women talked among themselves about expectations. It is learnt that 58 competitors (including 28 women) will represent Team India in athletics.

Is it right to expect medals without meeting the ‘basic’ needs, even as we boast of creating world-class sporting infrastructure for future generations via events like the CYG, is a thought to ponder about.