Camp goes on despite all odds

CHANDIGARH, May 15: The third phase of the national rowing camp is in full swing here at the Sukhna Lake. The camp which began on April 10 is being attended by 20 probables. However, the four week camp which was to conclude on May 10, has been further extended by another two weeks. The coaches are satisfied with the progress of the trainees and feel that they are on the right path of bagging a medal in the forthcoming Bangkok Asian Games slated to be held in December. 8220;The boys are clocking better timings, in their respective events than what they were clocking a couple of months earlier,8221; disclosed Dalbir Singh, assistant coach with the camp. There are three assistant coaches 8211; GS Nair, Ismail Baig and Surinder Singh, who recently was awarded the Arjuna Award rowing to assist Dalbir. The chief coach is Dimitri Riaboucha of Ukraine, who prepares the training schedule, and also supervises the camp.

The main emphasis in the camp is on speed endurance to prepare the team for a high level competition in Europe. 8220;We had done some long endurance work at Pune before coming here,8221; said one of the coaches. The weight training load is being reduced from 80 to 50 percent and heavy days are followed by easier ones. In addition to that, the oarsmen are doing short speed work, like six to eight repetitions of 35 second with 2 minutes of rest interval.

On the flip side, rowing, which is one of the 16 discipline chosen by the Indian Olympic Association for the Asian Games 1998, is facing financial crunch in preparation for the Asian Games. The team is lacking exposure. In the last one year, they have only participated in one big competition. That was the Asian Championship, held at Chinese Taipei in 8217;97. A ten-member team bagged one bronze medal. Now their trip to Europe is in jeopardy. 8220;We were scheduled to leave a few days ago, but the Sports Authority of India SAI is only paying only the air fare, and not the boarding and lodging,8221; said one of the probables. If the Army Sports Control Board comes to their rescue, the team might leave for Europe. Otherwise, the campers will get a fortnight8217;s break, before the next camp. The number will be reduced from 20 to 18.

The campers are also facing problems regarding their diet. They have had a marginal increase in their daily allowance, from Rs 90 a day to Rs 100. 8220;In the wake of these events their can be certain setbacks, but still India stands a good chance in the Asian Games,8221; said Dalbir.

In the 1990 Asian Games the Indian oarsmen won four bronze medals.

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