The Hindu : Sport : Tintu pulls out of Games

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Tuesday, Feb 08, 2011
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Tintu pulls out of Games

Special Correspondent

KOCHI: Asian Games bronze medallist Tintu Luka has pulled out of the National Games which begins in Jharkhand this weekend.

The 800m National record-holder is still in the recovery phase after suffering a hamstring injury at the Guangzhou Asiad and her coach P.T. Usha feels competing in Jharkhand could wreck her chances in the coming season. The 2011 season includes the Asian championship in early July in Kobe (Japan) and the World championship in Daegu (Korea) in late August.

Changing seasons

“If we compete in the National Games, we will not be able to change from one season to another,” explained Usha. “She took part in 10 to 11 meets last season, including many international events, and then she went for the varsities' meet which was a very risky thing.

“This is the time for her to rest and just do light training. If she goes to Jharkhand, whatever the field, she will get into the competitive frame of mind. We cannot do all-out races, this could lead to injury.”

The National Games has come at a very wrong time for the country's athletes, but with States like Kerala offering heavy cash awards for winners (gold winners from Kerala will take home Rs. 4 lakh, silver fetches Rs. 3 lakh and bronze Rs. 2 lakh), many of the athletes are just forced to grin and run despite the long season.

“Where do you have meets in February,” asked Usha. “The National Games athletics competition is very wrongly timed.”

Meanwhile, Commonwealth Games long jump silver medallist M.A. Prajusha will decide on her National Games trip only after the inter-Railway meet which begins in Chennai on February 9.

“Everything depends on the inter-Railway meet, we will confirm things only after that,” said M.A. George, Prajusha's coach. “The training period is very less. And even if we go, we will be looking at just an average performance, something in the range of 13.30m in the triple jump.”

Prajusha has been given only a triple jump berth in the Kerala team for the National Games.

The athletics competition in Jharkhand begins on February 16.

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