New Delhi: Race strolling is without doubt one of the few good medal-winning occasions for the Nationwide Video games hosts Uttarakhand, nevertheless it has surprisingly been neglected of the athletics programme.
Race strolling has been excluded from athletics programme on the Nationwide Video games (AFI)
The choice of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has come as a jolt for race walkers and hosts Uttarakhand which is taken into account the cradle of the game in India. Within the earlier two Nationwide Video games in Gujarat and Goa, Uttarakhand received 5 medals from the game.
It’s learnt that the Uttarakhand Olympic Affiliation and State’s division of sport, which is concerned in organising the Nationwide Video games (Jan 28-Feb 14), have written to AFI to reinstate race stroll for the Video games.
“We were preparing for the event when suddenly we came to know that race walking will not be held. We are disappointed because the National Games is happening at our home and we were looking forward to winning medals here. We have good race walkers in both men and women events,” stated Paris Olympian Suraj Panwar who received gold in Goa Nationwide Video games in 20km race stroll.
Paramjeet Singh Bisht stated for the reason that 35km race stroll was not a part of the Goa Video games they had been specializing in 20km. In Gujarat, each 35km and 20km race strolling competitions had been held, whereas in Goa solely 20km occasions came about. “We had doubts whether 35km will be held in Uttarakhand but now we hear even 20km has been taken off and that was surprising,” stated Bisht who competed on the Paris Olympics.
AFI has knowledgeable the Video games Technical Conduct Committee that “after careful consideration, the technical committee concluded that including the race walk event would not be in the best interest of the top athletes.”
It’s learnt that through the AFI AGM in Chandigarh, the technical committee whereas brainstorming on India’s efficiency at Paris Olympics, determined to enter race walkers in chosen competitions in order that they will obtain their peak in main worldwide competitions.
This yr, the main focus will likely be to get one of the best on the Asian Championships in Korea in Might and the World Championships in Tokyo in September. The efficiency of India’s 5 race walkers (20km and blended marathon) at Olympics left a lot to be desired.
Nonetheless, omission of the self-discipline from the Nationwide Video games has not gone down effectively with the hosts. An official stated it’s a sport the place the state can win medals and it needs to be reinstated. “We have asked AFI to reinstate the sport. The Services team that has several race walkers is also trying to convince AFI,” the official informed HT.
A coach stated managing the height of an athlete is the job of nationwide coaches. “The importance of every competition is different. It is all about how you train and what you are expecting from a particular competition. Excluding an event is not the solution. If you want you can keep the elite athletes away but there are so many promising youngsters who need domestic competitions. This kind of decision is not in the best interest of the sport.”