Tracking down the ones that got away

But why do the Kenyans defect, and why to Qatar? ‘‘Only to be able to run,’’ says Hassan. ‘‘It gives us an opportunity we don’t get in Kenya because there are thousands of good runners. It’s very difficult. There are no tracks in Kenya. We train there for long distance runs. But train in Qatar for the tracks.’’

Now, while that in itself wouldn’t be such a huge bother, part of the anymosity develops because, as Hassan says, ‘‘There is much more money in Qatar.’’ Which leaves the comparatively superior Kenyan runners more famous, but poorer.

Kirui, speaking to newspersons after the race, said, ‘‘I was at no stage worried about the Tanzanian (silver medallist Fabian Joseph). We (the three Kenyans in the fray) were worried about allowing Robert (Chipkurui, Hassan’s original Kenyan name) to go through. That’s what we planned against.’’

Take your mind back to the Athens Olympics 3000m steeplechase event. It was a Kenyan 1-2-3 and a very well planned one at that. And the famous smiling faces of the trio after the race reflected not just happiness at winning. It also carried signs of having pushed their Qatari opponent to fourth place.

Hassan explains: ‘‘The Kenyans don’t like us, they hate us. They are rivals, because when running, they are against me and I am against them. But we are friends when we are not racing.’’

Athletic Kenya secretary general David S Okeyo adds the third angle — the pacifist one — to it: ‘‘As far as we are concerned, a Kenyan won gold and a Kenyan won bronze. The United Nations charter says you can’t stop anyone from changing their nationality if they want to. There is nothing we can do about it. They feel they can do better there, and that is right.’’

This little side story might not have created ripples elsewhere in the world but for first-timers India, it was a view at the real world. And what an interesting view it is.