The Hindu : Sport / Athletics : Trials and re-trials, a familiar script

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Wednesday, Nov 08, 2006
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Sport - Athletics

Trials and re-trials, a familiar script

K.P. Mohan

NEW DELHI: China has entered a 41-member athletics team for the Asian Games in Doha. India is also planning to enter 41 athletes in the Games.

China topped the medals tally in athletics last time in Busan with 41 including 14 gold; India came second with 17 including seven gold. Three years later, at the Asian championships in Incheon, Korea, China once again led with 32 medals, 15 of them gold. India, however, slipped to fourth with 13 including four gold medals.

Chinese athletes head 15 events in the current Asian lists; India is just ahead in one event, the women's 4x400 metres relay. Yet, optimism is not lacking in the Indian camp.

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) is yet to announce the Indian team. It has, however, indicated the numbers. Even after the inclusion of all the four relay teams, the AFI will have to stretch the selection criteria a little to reach a strength of 41.

The AFI has not announced its criteria, though it has drawn up a set of norms for `internal consumption'. The federation has said it would go by the `medal-winning criteria'. Critics say this is a clear ploy to make `adjustments' to include `favourites'.

Additional trials

The AFI has ordered additional trials in order to finalise a few choices. "We were told the inter-State (in Chennai) would be the final trials. Just last night the federation informed me that there would be trials once again on Nov. 11. Where is the necessity to run again after just five days?" asks P.T. Usha.

One of Usha's trainees, Tintu Luka came fifth in the women's 400 metres with a career-best 55.15 seconds in the inter-State meet to be in contention for a spot in the six-member relay team. The 17-year-old Kerala athlete, one of the brightest prospects in recent years is, however, unlikely to make it.

Usha all but sure

Ashik Beevi, one of the athletes who trained in Ukraine but has not been seen since her return in September-end, is being projected as a stronger contender. She has reportedly been ill.

"If the trials are being held on Nov. 11 and the team is leaving (for Muscat) the same night, it is clear that the federation has made up its mind. After all, certain formalities have to be completed. No one has asked for Tintu's passport even," says Usha, all but sure that her ward would not be considered.

Though she has touched 4.08 metres this season and set three national records, pole-vaulter V.S. Sureka's chances of making it to Doha are also slim. Taking the third place at the last Asian championships, the qualification mark would be 4.10. It was only 4.00 at the Busan Games where women's pole vault made its debut. The rationale for keeping a higher mark based on current standards is sound.

Different rationale

However, the same will not be applied in the case of women's long jump where the fourth place at the last Asian championships was 6.50m. The federation is keen to include J.J. Shobha, if not in heptathlon, where she is behind Soma Biswas and Susmita Singha Roy on current form, at least in long jump.

She had jumped 6.32 in the Open and 6.25m (heptathlon) in the inter-State. The criterion has been kept at 6.40; it could still be diluted.

Though the idea of sending the team to Muscat, about 25 days ahead of the athletics events in Doha, defies logic, AFI Secretary Lalit Bhanot justifies it. "The athletes have to acclimatise," he says.

Muscat in November will have an average high of 31 degrees Celsius and a low of 21. Doha in December will be 24 degrees and 15 degrees. The average Delhi temperatures this month reach 28 degrees and 13 degrees while that in Hyderabad will be around 29 and 18.

There would have been no dearth of venues matching Doha's weather had the AFI looked around within the country. Unless Muscat has something special to offer!

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