India’s chief athletics coach Radhakrishnan Nair says the Athletics Federation of India is not only focussing on Asian Games and Asian Championship as medal events but also will use these tournaments as building blocks for the next World Championships and Los Angeles Olympics. Nair said as part of a larger plan, the AFI is looking at certain strong disciplines like javelin, 4x400m relay (men and mixed), 4x400m (men and women) as events of special focus for the LA Games in 2028.
Despite medalling regularly in Asian Games, India has historically struggled in track & field events in Olympics and World Championships with Neeraj Chopra being an exception. “Nowadays AFI is not focussing on Asian Games or Commonwealth Games or Asian Championship alone. These are used as building blocks for the 2028 Olympics and the world championships after that. Athletes’ mindset also must change, especially in other events,” he said.
“In Asian Games, everybody is thinking about money. You know the states offer prize money in crores. Generally, everybody will think that the Asian Games is better than the World Championships. I can’t win a medal at the World Championship, so why should I try it? That is one of the examples for less participation in this competition also. There is no target. But wait for the Open Nationals, there will be more participation,” Nair said.
Nair, who took over AFI chief coach in a full-time role in December 2020, said the federation has narrowed down on disciplines which it would give additional focus in the lead up to the LA Games. “Beyond javelin, we have, like, relays — 4×400 men and 4×400 mixed relays. Then, long jump men. These are the main events, which we are opting for next. We are focussing across all disciplines in a similar way, but the special focus is for the javelin, 400m men and women, long jump men. Even women in long jump are trying, but I don’t think of medal prospects as of now,” Nair said.
Before the event began in Chennai, there was big anticipation about the men’s 4x400m team that had become the first Indian team to make it to the finals of the World Championships. During the 2023 event in Budapest, the men’s team that included Muhammed Anas Yahiya, Amol Jacob, Muhammed Ajmal and Rajesh Ramesh had created an Asian record by clocking 2:59.05 in the qualifying rounds before finishing fifth in the final. However, two years later, there won’t be Indian participation in the World Championships to be held in Tokyo starting September 13.
Investing in youngsters
With Anas and Ajmal nowhere in the picture and Ramesh and Jacob struggling for form, the AFI on the insistence of 400m coach Jason Dawson chose to invest in a young group that could serve them in a four-year cycle. And since the team is yet to come together, Nair said the present team isn’t good enough to meet the qualifying criteria. “We had a very strong team in Budapest. Some of the athletes got injured and could not do well. To qualify, we have to run below 2.58-59. For that, you need a very good team, a strong team. That is why we did not try here. Otherwise, we would have tried. The present team is not good enough to achieve 2.58. So, it is better not to waste much money to bring a team from Sri Lanka. But they should be ready for the Asian Games. Everyone will be set,” Nair said.
Citing the women’s 100m final where Dhanalakshmi Sekar returned to the field after a three-year ban with a gold medal, Nair said there are good reasons to be optimistic about the women’s relay team as well. “Eight girls ran below 12. It was a very good time. Up to 5 of them, ran below 11.60. So, it is a good team. Needs further improvement. Dhanakashmi came back after a bad period. She had a better performance. Abhinaya, she is very young. There is Sneha who is slightly older. Then there is Nitya. So, we have a strong team in women’s 400m for the Asian Games,” Nair said.
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On Thursday, after Vishal TK won the gold in 400m, foreign coach Jason had lamented that there is too much interference from Indian coaches and called on them to work together with a single goal to improve India. But Nair said there is no such issue. “Absolutely, no problem. They are working together. Except for Jason, everybody is having an assistant coach. There is no problem. There is no interference of any Indian coaches with any foreign coaches. Jason still has doubts, but I can say it is not there.”
In the past certain athletes had come out in the open to criticise Jason’s coaching methods saying his methods are too extreme. But Nair threw his weight behind Jason. “Our athletes are not willing to come out of their comfort zone. They don’t want too much fatigue. They want to be comfortable after training. So as long as they are having this mentality, attitude, then it is difficult. They have to come out of their comfort zone. They have to work hard. That is why I fully support Jason. His principle is to work hard. Suppose if you want to break below 45, it is not that you should do the same training that you did to break 46. You have to do more training to break into 45. So that is what we want. And that attitude should come to the brain of the athletes.
Citing Vishal, who found success less than 12 months after he started working with Jason, Nair said other athletes should be prepared to do the same. “For example Vishal has been training with him. He survived. How? Others say it is hard. But he never complained to me. So, the thing is that you should be mentally fit. They should change their mindset. And they should come out of their comfort zone. They can’t go to a place where they have little difficulties. And they can’t compete 3-4 events continuously. They are afraid of competing. These are all the things they have to change. So, I agree with Jason that some of our athletes are not good,” Nair said.
