Millet pulls out of Nationals

Millet pulls out of Nationals
Express News Service

Mumbai, December 3: Nisha Millet has pulled out of the 54th Senior National Aquatic Championships to be held at the Andheri Sports Complex here from Sunday.

The meet, already plagued by postponement, change of venue (from Pune to Mumbai) and lack of sponsors, suffered the crushing blow just two days back when the 17-year-old decided against chasing records.

Mother Sheila Millet, who arrived here this morning with Nisha's younger sibling Reshma, said the decision to withdraw was taken in lieu of Nisha's proposed trip to Australia. Despite straining her back 10 days back, the Karnataka star had decided to participate here in a quest to add to her bag of eight National records as she was assured of gold medals in most of her events.

But long-term prospects and her doctor's advice of rest forced Nisha to say no to another big haul of medals. According to Sheila, Nisha used painkillers during practice but, naturally, could not train well enough for competition.

``She decided the injury was not worthrisking aggravation and hence pulled out,'' said Sheila of Nisha who won seven -- including six individual -- gold medals at the Kathmandu South Asian Federation Games in September.

Nisha is to travel to Australia on an International Olympic Council scholarship which entitles her to train abroad for a year -- between September '99 to August 2000.

Though the money is yet to come from the IOC headquarters at Lausanne, but is expected anytime, Nisha is planning to leave soon. Despite the delay, Sheila was happy that Nisha was saved the inconvenience of an injury while in Australia. Now, she can count on getting valuable training ahead of the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

The IOC identifies one athlete from each third world country for the scholarship and Nisha was selected as an Olympic medal prospect from India. Though the Millets have identified Victoria as a prospective destination for training, plans have not been finalised as they are still trying to work things around the monthly $1200 which the IOCgives.

For the moment, the Nationals will be the loser.