Athletics lacks awareness in India,” says Indian track and field queen Pilavullakandi Thekkeparambil Usha (PT Usha). She feels athletes are only given any attention after they bag a medal at a national or international level.
Usha is in Ranchi to observe the performance of her Calicut athletics school students Tintu luka (national 800 metres run) and Jessy Joseph at the 53rd National Open Athletics Championships, which was inaugurated on Saturday. She told The Pioneer that the Government comes up promptly with sponsorship for games like cricket and hockey, but lags behind dismally in case of athletics. “There is a need for long-term planning right at the grassroots training of athletes. It has never been done India,” she pointed out.
The Arjuna and Padma Shree awardee of 1984 feels that despite progress in athletics, India needs to do much more. She said, “In our times, we did not have proper track facilities for practice. Now, at least every State has a track available.” Further, Usha said, “Recently, I was in Russia, where I noticed players are given every single opportunity to nourish talent. For example, the tracks are far more developed than ours.”
The simply-dressed track star spent time bringing to the notice of all, the need for publicity of athletics. “It’s a big tournament but spectators are nowhere to be seen,” she noted. As far as doping was concerned, Usha seemed quite satisfied with the Anti-Doping Committee of Indian Athletics Federation keeping a constant check on young guns. She explained, “There are certain stages when athletes must be restricted. It is good that anti-doping committee is doing its job up to the mark.”