Chandigarh, Saturday, December 25, 1999
Chandigarh, Saturday, December 25, 1999 |
Women weightlifters disappoint By Ramu Sharma Women weightlifting has been the one field of sport where the country has recorded some memorable triumphs with one or two competitors even reaching the top of the world. And when the sport was introduced for the first time in the Asian Games , the first medals for the country came from the weightlifting stage. Since then the women have taken part in both the Asian and World Championships and acquitted themselves with credit though it has not always been a success story, the sport has carried a medal hope whenever there is any international competition. India’s Test ties at
Melbourne Bleak
future for women’s tennis Sebestian
gets raw deal How
Cuba promotes boxing |
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Women weightlifters disappoint Women weightlifting has been the one field of sport where the country has recorded some memorable triumphs with one or two competitors even reaching the top of the world. And when the sport was introduced for the first time in the Asian Games , the first medals for the country came from the weightlifting stage. Since then the women have taken part in both the Asian and World Championships and acquitted themselves with credit though it has not always been a success story, the sport has carried a medal hope whenever there is any international competition. But something seems to be going awry with the standard of the sport in the last one or two years. The Asian Games in Bangkok was a disaster with the team fetching just one silver medal thanks to Karma Malleswari. Even then , given the generally good record and the tremendous potential in the country, one did look forward to the World Championships in Athens last month. It was not merely a question of winning medals here. At stake was also the entry for the Sydney Olympic Games where weightlifting for women is being held for the first time. Unfortunately the competition at Athens proved to be a major flop for India. The nine-member team returned with just one silver, that of Kunjarani Devi, perhaps the most consistent international in the past few years. Malleswari finished fourth that was another disappointment. But what really made it worse was the fact two of the lifters, Sanamacha Chanu and Neelamsetti Laxmi failed to complete their assignment on the stage. Chanu fumbled with all her three efforts in snatch while Laxmi did likewise in clean and jerk. Both got zero points. If they had only not failed totally, India would have finished 15th instead of 16th. Given the rules for qualifying for the Olympics which allows four each from country finishing in the first six, three from those finishing in the 6-10 bracket and two for the 10-15 placements, India would have been able to field two lifters for the Sydney Games. Considering the tremendous faith placed on the women weightlifters the performances at Athens came as a shock. The federation officials and more importantly, the coaches, must be able to explain the inability of the Indians to perform to expectations. After all the entire team was reportedly in fine fettle and in peak form at the camp in Patiala in October. There was some talk about Sanamacha Chanu having pain below the neck area before the team left. Maybe not much could be done to help her out and perhaps that was the reason for her total collapse in the snatch, the more strenuous of the two lifts. Obviously the coaches appear to be having problems in helping the competitors to maintain their bodyweight. This is one of the most difficult exercises. Given the food habits and the general tendency among Indian sportspersons to put on weight during off season, it is necessary to monitor the daily routine of the lifters even when there is no competition on hand. Weight problems is reportedly the reason why both Karnam Malleswari and Kunjarani Devi, missed out on the Asian Championships earlier in the year. It is indeed a pity that the women did not do well at Athens. One of the reasons for the overall disappointment can be traced to the extra hope that lies with our women weightlifters. After all they are among the few Indian sportspersons who have done well on the international stage. There has of course to be some reason for the generally poor showing at Athens. Maybe they were not mentally prepared as the stakes went beyond the immediate competition. Fitness is another aspect which could looked into. What exactly could be the reason? The Indian team which went to the World Championship in 1995 won nine medals with Malleswari alone contributing three gold. The following year the medal count dropped to six, three silver from Kunjarani Devi and three bronze from Malleswari and in 1997 it dwindled to two silver, both won by Kunjarani. And now, the team has just one medal, a silver by Kunjarani as a saving grace. The reasons for the failure must be investigated but that will take time. For the present what is important is to start work for the Asian Championships to be held in Osaka next year, before the Olympics. A gold medal there would ensure the lifter concerned an opportunity to take part in the Olympics. Malleswari is the lifter who can do it. The Chinese of course may have something else in mind but that is a part and parcel of sports. Again there is every chance that Kunjarani may be given a wild card entry on the basis of her silver medal in Athens and Malleswari considered for a berth on the basis of her fourth place in Athens to add to her past performances. This permutation-combination could work to enable two Indians to make the trip to Sydney despite the failure in Athens but it would still be better to make the grade on the strength of performance on the stage and that is the Asian Championships in Osaka, Japan. The progressive decline in the performances of the lifters should force the federation to look into the qualifications of the coaches. A coach in weightlifting plays a very big role, advising on the load to start, the increase to opt for and other technically related issues. And India has had some
very competent foreign coaches looking after and
monitoring the progress of the lifters. One wonders if
there is anyone paying attention to the demands of the
foreign experts. A lot of money, in dollars, has been and
is being pumped into the sport. The federation must make
sure that the money is well spent. |
India’s Test ties at
Melbourne The second Test match of the three match series between India and Australia will be played at Melbourne cricket ground (MCG) from December 26 to 30. Australia have won four and India two in seven Test matches played between the two sides at MCG. The remaining Test match ended in a draw. The first Test match between India and Australia at this ground was played in the 1947-48 series. Australia who made 394 in the first innings and 255 for 4 in the second, achieved a 233-run victory over India. By scoring 132 in the first innings and 127 not out in the second, Don Bradman became the first batsman to score a hundred in each innings of the Test match against India. India who declared their first innings at 291 for nine were bowled out for just 125 runs in the second innings to lose the match. The fifth and final Test match of the 1947-48 series was also played at this ground. Australia who made 575 for 8 in their only innings, completed their third innings victory — an innings and 177 runs — of the rubber by dismissing India 331 in the first and 67 in the second innings. Australia recorded an innings and 4 runs victory over India when the two teams met for the third time at this venue in the 1967-68 series. India made 173 in their first innings after winning the toss. Australia scored 529 in their only innings of the match. R.B. Simpson (109), W.M. Lawry (100) and I.M. Chappel made a century each for the home side. Requiring 356 to avoid an innings defeat, India made only 352 in their second innings to lose the match. Ajit Wadekar missed his century by one run in the second innings. G.D. McKenzie took 10 wickets for 151 runs in the match, seven for 66 in the first innings and three for 85 in the second. India achieved a 222-run victory over Australia in the 1977-78 series. It was India’s first ever victory in Australia. Chandrasekhar took 12 wickets for 104 runs in the match which remains the best bowling analysis for India in Australia. In the 1980-81 series, India defeated Australia by 59 runs. Needing only 143 to win, Australia, collapsed dramatically against the Indian attack and recorded their lowest total (83) in any Test since 1968. A courageous display by Kapil Dev (pulled thigh muscle) brought India their third victory in 17 Test Matches in Australia. They had come close to forfeiting the match on the fourth day. Gavaskar had so vehemently disagreed with an lbw decision against himself that urged his partner, Chetan Chauhan, to leave the field with him. India’s manager, Wg Cdr S.K. Durrani, had met them at the gate and ordered Chauhan to continue his innings. The only drawn match between the two sides at this venue was played in the 1985-86 series. The last match between India and Australia at Melbourne cricket ground was played in the 1991-92 series. Bruce Reid helped Australia to beat India by 8 wickets by taking 12 for 126 in the match. It was a record for Australia in home Test against India. Australia captain Allan
Border scored the winnings run off the last possible ball
of the fourth day. |
Bleak future for women’s
tennis “The future of Indian women’s tennis is very dismal,” says numero uno Nirupama Vaidyanathan. “The Indian women’s tennis is currently in a very sorry state and if something is not done fast, it would be in ruins,” Nirupama said in an interview. She said unlike men’s tennis, which “is somewhat structured and organised”, women’s tennis is in a shambles. “There is no structure for women’s tennis in India. Here tennis is mostly taken as a hobby, but not groomed as a profession. It largely ends up as secondary to the primary aim of education.” Nirupama said, unlike abroad, India does not have professional academies catering to the sport. “Academies like Britannia Amaritraj Tennis (BAT), from where Leander Paes had come, are very few. These used to employ foreign coaches and used to proceed in a systematic manner to groom future champions. “We do not lack talent here. Its just the proper grooming that is required, she added. She said among the various factors required to boost the sport, “the most important are sponsors and a new approach to the way it is handled by the authorities concerned”. To make it big on the professional WTA circuit, a financial backing by sponsors is very important. This can be facilitated either by the government or by private organisations.” Speaking on the sorry state of affairs, she said, “Though I am the number one women’s tennis player of the country and represent one billion people, I have no sponsors and have to travel abroad and play at my own expense. Looking at this you can very well imagine how the country’s number two, three and so on must be surviving, especially if they don’t have personal money to put in.” She said due to lack of money she cannot afford to have a personal coach on the tour. “I can’t afford a coach. A coach plays a very instrumental part in a player’s success as it is he who decides the strategy.” Asked if the recent exploits of Paes and Bhupathi have in any way helped in roping sponsors, she replied in the negative. “ I think reaction to success has so far been very individualistic. Whatever success they have had, has primarily helped them, but not done much otherwise.” About her future plans, Nirupama, whose career-best WTA ranking has been 130 (currently above 200), said she planned to make some changes in her selection of tournaments. “I have realised that I should give more emphasis to $ 25,000 or $ 50,000 tournaments rather than playing in bigger events where I clash with the higher-ranked. In the smaller events, a clash with these usually comes in later rounds.” Also, I feel that consistency is one department where I lack. Though I have beaten even players as high as top 10, I lack consistency.” However, on an optimistic note, she added; “My best is yet to come. Asked if she had plans to play doubles pairing with Tathiana Garbin of Italy, she said currently she just intended to stress on singles. ‘My first priority will always be singles. About doubles I am not sure. About Garbin, well I am not much certain as it is difficult to make it with a foreigner. Commenting on the new crop of Indian girls in tennis, Nirupama said. “Except for Manisha Malhotra, (SAI) Jayalakshmi, Rushmi Chakravarthi, who are all of my age, I do not find much talent in the under-14 and under-16 sections.” She said after a break
in Coimbatore, she would now be heading to Australia for
the Australia Open qualifiers. Her career best in a grand
slam so far has been a second round in the Australian
Open. — UNI |
Sebestian gets raw deal Thirty-year-old Sabestian Xavier, bald, pleasant but determined, has proved that he is still the quickest swimmer in the country. At the 54th nationals at Mumbai, he bagged the 50 metres freestyle untroubled setting aside his anger and disappointment against the powers that-be for meting him out stepmotherly treatment. Eleven years ago Xavier won the first gold medal in this event at the nationals. He has continued to reign supreme since then. His tally of gold medals in the nationals is 70, in National Games nine and in South Asia Federation Games 19. Yet he has been one of those unfortunate sportspersons who have been denied an Arjuna Award while non-entities have been ‘bestowed’ this prestigious award by the Government. The Ministry for Human Resource Development may be responsible for this apathy. But greater blame lies with the swimming Federation of India which has not genuinely tried to do justice to this diehard swimmer who has done more for the country than many. Despite the raw deal, Xavier wears a very happy disposition. He seldom criticises any one. But he keeps saying that one needs a godfather to succeed in this country. The Mumbai nationals ended in a blaze of glory for police who pushed two dominant units, Railways and Services, behind. Police’s recruiting policy, for example, is far more realistic than that of the two other government units. Police has been recruiting youngsters on the scheme of stipend and regular employment. Recently, they appointed the Misra sisters of Delhi. Richa Misra is a golden girl of Indian swimming. Ever since she has been enrolled by the Police, Richa has been progressing rapidly. Maybe, she has got motivation. Maybe, she is determined to rule the Indian waters. To have claimed six individual gold medals in the Mumbai nationals bears enough testimony of her talent, promise and skill. Only 16, her achievements were appreciated by even her rivals like Zeba Wadia and Shiksha Tandon. Despite writing a glorious chapter in the Mumbai nationals, Richa has not been chosen for the Asian Meet in March. Indeed Nisha Millet stands ahead of her in view of her stupendous performance in the Kathmandu SAF Games, where she claimed eight gold medals . But Richa is younger than Nisha and her progress has been more rapid than any other competitor’s in the country. Nisha Millet did not take part in the Mumbai nationals because of a back injury. But she was at the Andheri Pool. She was pleasantly surprised to see the progress Richa had made. Maybe, she will have to work harder then Richa to maintain her supremacy in Indian waters. In, the men’s section, there was hardly any new swimmer who made a significant impact in the meet. A seasoned campaigner, Kailash Nath stayed in the forefront. Other favourites, like Hakeemuddin, continued to win their events. The meet had some closely contested races. It was a success but the participants deserved better lodging and board facilities than provided to them. Indian swimmers are much
better than Indian athletics. But they sadly do not get
enough exposure and facilities because the federation has
been in the clutches of officials, who are devoid of new
ideas, planning and programme. It is time the Nanavastis
and Sharmas have been replaced by more dynamic officials
to help promote swimming in the country. There is no
dearth of money. There are sponsors available. But
sponsors are shrewd business people. They want to sponsor
events in which a office-bearers have a reputation to
lose. But the SFI has been dominated by the same set of
officials for more than a decade. The present set of
office-bearers should be provided a befitting farewell
and a new team brought in to help swimming progress.
— NPA |
How Cuba promotes boxing CHARLIE Chaplin’s look-a like 45-year-old Blas Iglesias Fernandes, the exuberant boxing coach from Cuba, who is presently training the Indian national boxers for big-time events in 2000, along with Dronacharya awardee Gurbax Singh Sandhu, chief national boxing coach, and T.L. Gupta, national boxing coach, speaks to the writer about various aspects of boxing in Cuba which is a force to reckon with in world boxing today. The following are excerpts from the interview — Q: before coming over to India, were you working full-time as a boxing coach in Cuba? A: Yes, I was the boxing coach in Cuba with the national team. I produced a couple of top class boxers like Rafael Cardenas, who was national champion twice and Pan American champion, Nelson Machado, who was junior world champion and a host of other top class boxers. In 1987-88, I was the national boxing coach and was assisting the chief national boxing coach of Cuba, Arcides Sagarra, in the national boxing coaching camp. Q: What is the status of boxing in Cuban schools and colleges? A: There are fifteen States in Cuba and every State has more than ten municipalities. There is a physical education teacher in every school, and he is the key person to identify talent. If he finds that a boxer is very promising, he recommends the name to the chief national boxing coach of Cuba who provides him all the encouragement in the world, including specialised training. Such talented boxers are picked up from the schools and colleges. The promising boxers are also spotted during Municipal and club tournament which is organised once in a year. We have a system called ‘pyramid of the high level’ whereby boxers from municipal, provincial and national levels form junior and senior national teams: the junior team comprises 40 boxers, while the senior team has 48 boxers. Q: How the national boxing team of Cuba is prepared for mega events like the Olympics? A: There is a four-year programme to prepare the Cuban national boxers for the Olympics. We prepare our national boxers from Olympics to Olympics. There are many, many competitions in the states and our boxers mostly train in their respective states. We send our boxers to America and Europe for exposure and competitions. Our national boxers are well looked after by the government which provides all the incentives to motivate them. Q: Training apart, what is the physical conditioning programme like for the national boxers in Cuba? A: It is a six-day physical conditioning programme for our national boxers: Two days of endurance training; two days of speed work; one day of speed and endurance. Our boxers do a lot of weight-training; one day of speed work; one day of speed and endurance. Our boxers do a lot of weight-training, keeping in view the time schedule of a particular competition. We have high altitude training for our national boxers for such events as the Olympics and World Cup. Our boxers go to Mexico for high altitude training since we have a contract with Mexico. Q: Do you invite foreign boxing coaches to train your national boxing team? A: We invited foreign coaches from the erstwhile GDR and the Soviet Union before 1970. Now we do not invite foreign coaches since our boxing coaches are good enough to train our national boxing team. Q: Do you engage sports scientists to train your national boxing team? A: To every national sport, a sports psychologist, physiologist, sports medicine expert and a nutritionist are exclusively attached to the national teams. Q: The Indian boxers have been going to Cuba for training-cum-competition. You have been a part of the Indian boxing contingent to Cuba? Do you think that the tour to Cuba has done any good to Indian boxers? A: Yes, of course. Those Indian boxers who qualify for the Sydney Olympics, may go to Cuba for intensive training in July 2000. The second qualifying meet for the Sydney Olympics will be held in South Korea from 17 to 25, January 2000 and the last qualifying round for the Sydney Olympics will be in Thailand from April 1, 2000. Hopefully, the Indian boxers will qualify for the Sydney Olympics in the second qualifying round in South Korea. Q: Who, according to you, has been the best boxer in Cuba till date? A: It is surely Teofilo Stevens (a great friend of Muhammad Ali) who won the Olympic title three times in super heavy: 1972, 1976 and 1980. He is presently with the Cuban Boxing Federation. Q: How many boxing coaches you have in Cuba? A: Cuba, with a
population of 10 million people, has 500 boxing coaches.
They are all full-time boxing coaches. Our coaches are
well looked after by the Government. It is imperative for
a coach to have at least five years of experience in
physical culture with minimum educational qualification
of higher secondary. |
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Poor umpiring in Tests It was shocking to see poor umpiring in the Test match between Australia and India as also between England and South Africa. Such umpiring spoils the game and disappoints players. Many controversial decisions were taken by the umpires. First Ricky Ponting’s under-edge to the keeper was denied and Sachin Tendulkar was wrongly given out in the both innings. The Indian skipper was hit below the left shoulder while trying to avoid a McGrath bouncer. It was certain that the ball would have gone over the stumps but the umpire ruled the little master out. In the other Test controversial decisions by South African umpire Rudi Koertzen marred the tie. Mark Boucher was the first to suffer as he was given out lbw to a ball pitching outside the leg stump. Vaughan was also given out caught behind by umpire Koertzen but the replays revealed that there was no contact between bat and ball. These decisions will affect the morale of the team. Karun Saini II The Indian cricket team’s Australian tour is proving disastrous. What went wrong is not difficult to understand. We have always been tigers on the subcontinent but whenever we have to face rising deliveries on bouncy tracks our technique fails. It reminds me of Martin Crowe of New Zealand who in earlier part of his career faced the same problem. He understood the problem and learnt to play on the back-foot. We should prepare such tracks back home so that our players are accustomed to the nuances of bouncy tracks. Dr Sanjay Goyal III No doubt Australia are one of best cricket teams in the world. They beat Pakistan 3-0 in the Test series held in Australia recently. But it is also a fact that Australian umpires ensured their success in each match through partial decisions. The Indian team also faced the same fate. NATHA SINGH IV India’s 288-run defeat at the hands of the Aussies reminds of the worst-ever defeat against South Africa at Durban in 1997. Well this is not the first time that the Indian team has faltered against the seam attack. But what was really shocking was the dismissal of Indian captain Sachin Tendulkar twice in the match. He was adjudged caught bat-pad when the ball had clearly flicked off his pads. His dismissal paved the way for the Aussie victory. KSHITIJ VIJ V Umpire Harper was responsible for the dismissal of Sachin Tendulkar in both the innings in the first test at Adelaide. He must be a great strategist. He knew that none of the Australian bowlers had the ability to dislodge the world’s greatest batsman. The very thought of witnessing the butchering of the bowling at the hands of Sachin sent shivers down his spine. He therefore, took the responsibility on himself as he knew his bowlers could not dismiss Sachin. The dismissals were deliberate, well thought-out and immaculately planned. M.N. CHOPRA |
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