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Future bright for Indian athletics: SAI coach

PHOTO: CH.VIJAYA BHASKAR

SAI coach Nagapuri Ramesh

VIJAYAWADA: Nagapuri Ramesh, the ever-smiling athletic coach of the Sports Authority of India, is considered a coach with a Midas touch, as he has trained many international athletes who went on to win medals in the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games.

The Hyderabad-based coach was instrumental in Indian women relay teams (4x400) winning the coveted yellow medal, both in the Delhi Commonwealth Games and the Guangzhou Asian Games.

He also trained Ashwini, who won gold in the 400-m hurdles at Guangzhou.

Speaking to The Hindu on the sidelines of the recently-concluded all-India inter-university athletic meet, Mr. Ramesh said the future of Indian athletics was looking bright thanks to the exploits of the athletes in the CWG and the Asian Games.

“A lot of effort went into the preparations for these two mega events. We prepared at Patiala and we also went to Ukraine to train in different weather conditions. Ukraine is one city that has produced many world class athletes,” he said.

Mr. Ramesh said the success in these two events had changed the lifestyle of the athletes.

“Many rewards were showered on the medal winners. State and Central governments besides corporate outfits came forward and presented cash awards. Earlier they were travelling in trains and now they (athletes) are flying. Their daily allowance and travel allowance have also gone up. This is a good sign,” he felt.

Discussing the preparations for the 2012 London Olympics, Mr. Ramesh said emphasis would be placed on the bench-strength for 4x400 metres relay, 400 meters hurdles and 400 metres in the women's segment.

“These events are medal-prospective. We would like to train 16 best athletes for these three events. Already the Athletic Federation of India has prepared the training to-do list and in the coming one and half years we will train the athletes in different weather conditions. Athletes will also travel abroad to undergo training in alien terrains,” he said.

Mr. Ramesh appreciated the athletes who went on to set new meet records, especially in track events.

“Creating records on a mud track is laudable. And, remember, these records were set on synthetic tracks. This proves that the track at the Acharya Nagarjuna University was laid to perfection by the organisers.”

He said some of the medal winners will certainly find a slot in the national camp for the London Olympics. Analysing the scenario in Andhra Pradesh, Mr. Ramesh felt the State was witnessing a transitory period.

“Some of the seniors had faded away and some are too young to win medals,” he observed.

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