The first Indian athlete to win a World Championship medal has launched a strongly-worded attack on the authorities back home for neglecting sports, warning their ‘‘attitude could lead to another disappointing show at the Olympics”. Anju Bobby George’s leap of 6.70m fetched her the bronze at the World Championships in Paris last year finally putting India on the medals table of the most prestigious track and field competition. Adulation accompanied by riches followed her success but George is disappointed that the government since then hasn’t done enough to help the country win a long overdue medal in athletics at the Olympics this August. ‘‘The government has failed to do its duty in the improvement of Sports,” George told Qatar’s Gulf Times newspaper today in which she also took potshots at the Indian politicians. ‘‘The ministers are not efficient. If the government wants medals in top events they will have to provide world class facilities to the athletes. The infrastructure needs to be improved drastically and scientific methods have to be introduced in all aspects of sports.” George, who is hoping to win India’s first medal in athletics at the Olympics was furious that not much was being done in India to encourage athletes, saying Indian sports fans were in for another disappointment at this years Games in Athens. ‘‘It will not be just the athletes who will be forced to endure the humiliation but also every Indian who dreams of an Olympic medal,’’ she warned. ‘‘Still if an Indian manages to win a medal in Athens, it will be only because of his or her hard work and not due to any help from the government authorities,” said Anju. Anju who is currently ranked seventh in the world, said she was now tired of approaching the government for help and focusing only on her preparations for the Olympics. She finished fourth in the Osaka Grand Prix last week, will be taking part in the Qatar Super Grand Prix here tomorrow in the run-up to Athens. ‘‘There are expectations from me but I am not under pressure. I can’t afford pressure to get to me because it affects the performance,” she said referring to her Olympic chances. India’s only two olympic medals in athletics were won in 1900 when Norman Pritchard won two silver medals in the 200m sprint and the 200m hurdles.
