Rough ride to stardom

THE BUMPY, 10-km journey from Srikakulam (Andhra Pradesh) to Amudalavalasa is perhaps symbolic of the ordeal of India's ace weightlifter, Karnam Malleswari, whose odyssey to stardom began from this sleepy township. Ironically, the predominantly rural area with paddy fields all around did not come alive despite their `own' girl winning a bronze in the 69 kg category (110 + 130) at the Sydney Olympics, to become the first Indian woman to bag a medal in the Games' history.

Divided loyalties are clearly one of the reasons for the lukewarm response. While Neelamshetty Appana, the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh weightlifting coach, is widely referred to as the first coach of Malleswari, her parents strongly deny any role of his in the shaping of the star. The State Sports Minister, Mr. Tammineni Sitaram, also hails from the same district. But, the reaction is very guarded to a truly great feat. ``No one came to our house to say congrats,'' admits Karnam Manohar, Malleswari's father. The parents stay in Railway quarters without even a telephone. ``I called my daughter from a STD booth to greet her,'' he said to a query. Unless one lures the locals into a discussion, not many show the expected enthusiasm in acknowledging her achievement.

Better late than never, but it has been 31 long years for the Maruthi Yuvajana Yyayama Mandali, set up by an enterprising individual K.Ammi Naidu way back in late Sixties, to grab the national limelight. It is a pathetic sight to see the facilities available for the current batch of trainees, who still flock the outdated, primitive set-up in the temporary shed. It is anybody's guess whether one can call the two makeshift arrangements for training at Usavanipeta and Amudalavalasa as `gyms' for they resemble abandoned dwellings, haunted by a ghost with even the approach strip too demanding to take the risk. The people here hope that, thanks to Malleswari's feat, the Government would now come forward in a big way to sustain their interest in the locally popular sport.

Certainly, the mystique of a typical rural Indian village truly unfolded in the wake of the magnificent performance by an individual who was first barred from the sport by her own father. ``I was against Malli (as Malleswari is called) from taking up the sport. However, as my eldest daughter, Narsamma was already in it, she was the inspiration and I let Malli join at the instance of Appana,'' recalls Karnam Manohar. ``In the beginning I just hoped that a decent performance in the zonal and national events would fetch my daughters a good job through the sports quota,'' he confesses. But he is quick to add that there ended the role of Appana. ``He never coached Malli and there was no need for us to go to Usavanipeta as we reside in the Amudalavalasa railway quarters (he is an RPF constable).'' Even if one concurs with his views, it is plain truth that Appana has to his credit the formation of the first batch of women weightlifters in the district and in the State. For the record he accompanied the State women's teams for 11 years from 1983. ``That is a fact,'' admits even Ammi Naidu, at whose gym Malleswari trained for hours taking the key from him almost daily from 11 a.m.

In view of these conflicting versions, it would be better to leave it to the conscience of Malleswari as to who was her first coach. But, it is an undeniable fact that the circumstances and facilities when she started training with the railway track plates were too demanding, which could have easily deterred anyone from becoming a weightlifter. The training equipment is still there, rusted, and being used by the present batch too. Certainly, they are worthy of a place in a museum! Appana honestly confesses that his training methods were not in tune with the best in the business. But to catch them young was the priority, not imparting high quality training. Appana, who started off with a consolidated pay of Rs.300 then is now paid Rs. 10,000. Again the role of the SAAP comes back to mind - what is that he will do with these sort of facilities?

For one who just wanted to accompany her parents on one of their visits to the SAI Bangalore camp to see her sister, Narsamma, 15- year-old Malleswari caught the imagination of the then Russian coach, Riabokon. Referring to the early days of Malleswari, Manohar recalls that they had to virtually plead to let the coach have a close look at the teenager's profound interest. But once he was impressed, there was no problem in letting Malleswari join the camp as a special case. Clearly, what is indisputable is the near unanimous view of both Appana and the other coaches including, J. Manikyalu, who was in the national coaching squad when the weightlifter won the second world title in 1995 - that nobody can match Malleswari's determination and discipline. ``It is amazing. Every time she failed to lift a certain weight in the training, she never came back from the session till she achieved it,'' say Apanna and Manikyalu. ``Her social life is a virtual zero. For, she was always focussed on achieving something no other woman had in Indian weightlifting,'' explains Manikyalu.

``We are confident of producing a couple more Malleswaris if the powers-that-be provide us with minimum basic training equipment, besides constructing a decent indoor hall,'' says Ammi Naidu, who has spent from his pocket and through donations from the locals about Rs. 25,000 for the equipment. Incidentally, his daughter K. Rama Devi, is also in the Indian camp in Patiala now.

How does Appana react to the remarks of Malleswari's family? ``Well, it hurts to some extent but will not curb my interest in pursuit to train many more talented youngsters,'' he says confidently.

Manikyalu, the Commonwealth Games gold medallist and a renowned coach, feels that it is time to start four more SAI weightlifting training centres, particularly in the South and North-Eastern region where it is really popular. ``Definitely, Malleswari's achievement should give the fillip.'' However, Dr. N. Parameswara Ram, former Director of AP Sports School, feels that unless there is scientific planning, India might find it difficult to win medals in weightlifting as it happened in kabaddi with the neighbouring countries catching up.

The present time is most promising to encourage weightlifting in the State with a lot of gifted youngsters such as Krishnaveni, Sailaja, Sitamma and Rama Devi on the threshold of achieving something big, provided they are given the right encouragement. Clearly, the future is in the hands of the authorities, who control the sport and not just on the broad shoulders of the weightlifters.

V. V. SUBRAHMANYAM

Hyderabad

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