Lifting hits another low

At the Asian junior and sub-junior championships, weeks after the last ban was lifted, Indian lifters collected more than 30 medals, including 16 golds. That tally, experts say, could have been more in 2006, with the Asian and world-level meets coming up.

It will also halt the women8217;s medal march; India are ranked eighth in the world and the women have collected 45 medals, including five gold, at world meets since 1987.

In the men8217;s group, India doesn8217;t figure in the top 30 at either senior or junior level.

The lifters will miss at least two upcoming competitions, the Asian junior championship in April 8212; a preparatory camp for which 40 lifters had already been identified has now been scrapped 8212; followed by World Junior meet in May, at Hangzhou, China.

Though the lifters appear a worried lot, the same can8217;t be said for some officials in Delhi, whose main concern remained the next Games here. 8216;8216;Whether the ban is for two or four years, Indian lifters will be participating in the 2010 CWG,8217;8217; said one senior coach.