PT Usha responds

PT Usha has not taken kindly to Anju Bobby George’s remarks that the “Payyoli Express” was not a world class athlete in her heydays, but said she would not comment on the ace long jumper’s credentials as “she is just a child.”

Anju, in a television interview, had said though she would not like to belittle Usha’s achievements but would not consider her as a world class athlete.

She had obliquely hinted that Usha finished fourth in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics 400m hurdles because of the boycott by athletes from the erstwhile Eastern bloc.

When asked why Usha was not her idol, Anju said since the Kerala runner was not a world class athlete she could not be her idol.

“I am looking up to only world standard athletes,” Anju had said in an interview to Malayala Manorama Television channel, adding “Milkha singh and Usha are only Asian level athletes.”

Reacting to Anju’s remarks, Usha said she would not want to hurt Anju now as that could affect her preparations for the Beijing Olympics.

“India is expecting a medal from Anju at the Beijing Olympics. If I answer to her comments, that will hurt her. I am not prepared to put her in such a mental state,” she said.

“How can she (Anju) decide on my credentials? International Amateur Atheletic Federation had selected me in 1985 and 1986 as one of the best eight atheletes in the world,” a hurt Usha responded.

“Anju is like a small child to me. I have seen her grow before my eyes. She has to grow further,” Usha said.

PT Usha and Anju have a cat fight

Some one had to call the bluff. and Anju did it in style. She simply said that PT Usha was not an athlete of international standards during her heydays. She even went on to hint that Usha had managed to finish 4th in the Olympics only because there were no Eastern Block Athletes at that point of time. During the Los Angeles Olympics , the Soviet Bloc had boycotted the Olympics en masse leaving the field open for a lot of medals.

Anju hit the nail on the head when she said that Milkha Singh and PT Usha were Asian Level athletes at the best and not world class athletes that she could look up to.

Time PT Usha realises that she and OP.Nambiar dominated the Indian Athletic scene only because of their scheming in collusion with the AAI. Can anyone forget that though Ashwini Nachappa had qualified for the 200 mtrs in Asian Games, PT Usha decided to participate. Mysteriously she decided to drop out of the event leaving Ashwini running just the relay races. Many of her peers were either eased out slowly or were shown the door just to ensure that she dominated the field. Does anyone remember Vandana Rao or Ashwini Nachappa ? Not really they disappeared from the scene more out of disgust.

I am sure PT Usha ran the race more outside the track than on the track with her rivals.

Ofcourse Anju Bobby George will soon issue a denial saying she was misquoted, but I would say the fact remains, that PT Usha ran the race elsewhere

500 coaches needed for SAI institutes

According to the outspoken Sports Minister Mani Shankar Aiyer, nearly 500 vacancies for the post of coaches for various disciplines are lying vacant in various SAI’s (Sports Authority of India) across India. No wonder there are very few world class athletes in India. Here is what a Rediff article had to say about this shortage.

The state of grooming sporting talent in India can be guaged from the fact that around 500 posts for coaches at various training institutes run by the Sports Authority of India are lying vacant.

Replying to questions in the Rajya Sabha, Sports Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar also said the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan was also running short of 165 youth co-ordinators.

Regarding the shortfall in coaches at SAI institutes, Aiyar informed that it had been allowed to hire coaches on contract basis.

“Based on a report submitted by the Staff Inspection Unit (SIU) in July 1998 recommending large scale reduction in the sanctioned strength of SAI, including coaches, the ministry made it incumbent on SAI to seek prior approval of the government before the creation of any post.

“However, as an interim measure, SAI has been permitted to engage coaches on a contract basis, whenever required, and SAI is doing so,” the Minister said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

Answering a separate question, Aiyar said the NYKS had a sanctioned strength of 500 youth co-ordinators, but almost a third of the posts were lying vacant.

“The last recruitment of youth co-ordinators was made in 1994. NYKS initiated the process of recruitment in 1996-97, which was cancelled subsequently by the competent authority and later challenged in the Delhi High Court. The matter is still sub-judice,” the reply said.

The 2008-09 Budget intends to provide for opening of Nehru Yuva Kendras under a district youth co-ordinator in each of the 123 districts of the country not presently covered by the scheme, Aiyar added.