India needs to take the middle path

Even though the 15-member Indian athletics contingent had some good performances, the Athletics Federation of India AFI would do well to a...

Even though the 15-member Indian athletics contingent had some good performances, the Athletics Federation of India AFI would do well to answer a few questions on the selection of the athletes.

No one except the AFI had placed any expectations on the four discus throwers and one shot-putter. The three women at least made an attempt to perform to their ability. The men throwers proved a joke. Shot putter Bahadur Singh made three foul attempts while discus thrower Anil Kumar was rolled out on a wheelchair due to an injury which he carried to Athens.

In the last Games in Sydney too, the throwers had let India down. Both Bahadur and Shakti Singh had failed to come anywhere near their personal performances. It is difficult to fathom why the AFI insisted on sending five throwers. The basic argument, of course, is that they had qualified. But then such performances send a wrong signal to sports fans in India. It also goes against the sport, which is crying for recognition in the country.

Barring the throwers and to a certain extent sprinter Saraswati Saha and high jumper Bobby Alloysius, all other Indian athletes performed creditably.

Anju George, the women8217;s 4215;400 metres relay team and K M Binu set national records. Heptathlete J J Shobha did outstandingly while Soma Biswas also performed reasonably. Going by history, India has done well in the throws only at the Asian level.

In fact in Asia too, Indian throwers excelled in the past because the Chinese and Japanese hardly ever sent their top throwers for the meets in the continent.

They used to keep them for participation in Europe. And when they competed in Asia, the Indians didn8217;t stand a chance.

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On the other hand, middle and distance runners have done well in the Olympic Games.

Sriram Singh, Hari Chand and the late Shivnath Singh performed exceedingly well in different editions of the Games.

Physiologically, Indians are more suited to middle and distance running than the throws. At the basic level, these events don8217;t require fancy infrastructure. Sheer hard work can take one to a reasonably good level. But if one is not selected even for the continental meets, discouragement sets in. And this is what has happened to the Indian distance runner.

One has to learn a lesson from the African nations. They know they are good in middle and long distance running 8212; both in terms of genetics and environmental and social conditions. They have never attempted the throws or the jumps. And they go back with a sackful of medals each time.

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If it8217;s medals that we are starving for, we have to not only train well, but plan well too. Throwers won8217;t take us anywhere. If anyone can, it8217;s the runners.