Discus-sion and debate on three more foul throws

Once is an accident, twice a coincidence. But today marked the third time in four days that an Indian athlete simply gave up without trying....

Once is an accident, twice a coincidence. But today marked the third time in four days that an Indian athlete simply gave up without trying. Discuss thrower Anil Kumar took the field with a heavily bandaged thigh, landed two foul throws, didn8217;t opt for the third and left in a wheelchair.

8216;8216;I can8217;t talk, I am in pain8217;8217;, he said on his way to the MI room after joining the Bahadur Singh school of Olympic participation. Incidentally, his performance would not have exempted him from random dope testing.

However, his injury and performance here should cause some debate within the IOA, Sports Ministry and federations over the condition of athletes 8212; on whom lakhs of rupees are spent 8212; once they reach the Olympics. And, in Bahadur Singh8217;s case, their motivation levels should they not complain of injuries.

Kumar 29, the national record holder, had reportedly thrown 64.37 metres, his personal best, in Europe two months back. He8217;d won the bronze medal at the last Asian Games in Busan, and gold in the Asian championships in 2000. But Anil Kumar8217;s name will always be associated with Hungary 8212; he8217;s spent the last three years there preparing for Athens with the sports ministry funding the programme.

His obsession with that country has been a mystery to most, but no one has ever questioned his motive so far. Not even the Athletics Federation of India AFI. Now his pullout after a couple of 8216;illegal8217; throws has raised several eyebrows and got people wondering whether it had actually something to do with the reported fracture.

Kumar earned his Olympics berth with a throw of 64.37 to regain his national record. But he did it not at any of the national circuit meets here or on the Grand Prix circuit abroad. It happened at an international meet in Szombathley, Hungary. Over the past three years, he8217;s failed to perform 8212; or participate 8212; at home, with the AFI turning a blind eye. He would either pull out of an important meet or not perform to the level of the Hungary meets.

The Asian championship gold medallist has confessed to media personnel that he prefers Hungary because of the training facilities and weekend competitions.

With inputs from New Delhi

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Binu out in semis
After lifting the sagging morale yesterday in his maiden appearance in the Olympic Games, K.M. Binu ran out of steam and failed to qualify for the 400-metre finals with a time of 45.97. He finished seventh today after having run a gallant race to set a national record in 45.48 secs in the semifinals.