Track-field show without Shakti

But, with the penultimate meet coming up at Mumbai’s Priyadarshini Park tomorrow, a majority of the athletes are feeling the heat. Many are tired of competing. Others are carrying injuries. While the seniors are coming off the South Asian Federation Games, the juniors returning from the Asian meet at Singapore will also be seen in action.

There is very little motivation for the athletes. No berths in National squads are at stake. The meet comes close to the end of the season with only the Raja Bhalendra Singh International meet at New Delhi and Open Nationals to be gone through.

But they are forced to compete, especially the stars, as the Amateur Athletic Federation of India (AAFI) does not want the event to lose its glamour. Then there is prize money — Rs 5,000 for the winner,Rs 3,500 and Rs 1,500 for second and third respectively. And then there is the incentive for creating a National record, Rs 25,000.

Discus king Shakti Singh, who pocketed that award last season, may give the event a miss. He was not training at the venue this evening. But middle-distance runners Sunita Rani and Gulab Chand, and track legend PT Usha turned up for a training session.

Gulab has a sore heel and is participating only because of a formality. “I can barely walk, I have to get my heel treated,” he said.

Sunita Rani, triple-gold winner at Kathmandu, had expressed her lack of willingness to run this event. She made it clear that she will only be going through the paces. Records can wait. “I ran three races at KAthmandu. We have to recover,” the petite girl said. Asked what motivated her to run, she added, “Agar Federation humko bhagayegi, hum bhagenge, (If the AAFI forces me to run, I have no choice),” she said.

Eleven-time National 100 metres champion Adille Sumariwala, convenorof the meet, explained: “The nine circuit meets are designed on the lines of international Grand Prix meets. Only if Indian athletes perform consistently over nine meets a year can they think of doing well in international meets,” he said. Seeing how weary the Indians sounded, they still have a long way to go.

Nine events for men — 100, 200 and 400 metres, 3000m, long jump, shot put, discus, hammer and javelin — and six for women — 100, 200, 400, 1,500, long jump and discus — have been scheduled.

Among those conspicuous by their absence will be middle-distance runner Bahadur Prasad, who has virtually not run this year. So is the case with National pride, Jyotirmoyee Sikdar, the 800 and 1,500 metres gold medal winner in Bangkok Asiad.