Belarussian expert Nikolai Snesarev, overseeing the country’s middle and long-distance training, was disappointed that none from the five-member squad that represented India at the World Cup walk competition in Cheboksary could book a ticket to the Beijing Olympics.

In the May 10-11 competition, Snesarev was expecting at least two of his trainees to win tickets for the Olympics. But the Indian athletes not only put up a dismal show in Russia, they never came close to their best. Three months ago in the domestic competition at Patiala, the athletes had clocked their personal best (see box).

Snesarev, who had predicted two Olympic berths with good timings, in his post-mortem report has mentioned the lack of international experience as the main reason for the Indians’ poor performance in Russia. His report, to be submitted to the Athletics Federation of India, also mentions four other factors responsible for the dismal show of the athletes.

They are: Athletes have failed to recover from the February (domestic) race; in Russia they failed to judge their pace and went flat out, resulting in poor timing; 38-hour travelling schedule from Munnar (near Bangalore) to Cheboksary has taken its toll on athletes; and, finally, no proper walking course in the country to prepare the athletes for international meets.

The Belarussian expert also blamed it on the improper diet given to the athletes during the preparatory camp. His report mentions that during the 25-day camp in Bangalore, the athletes were provided Rs 75 for the extra diet but that, according to Snesarev, is too less for an athlete preparing for an endurance event like the 50 km walk. According to him, the athletes needed good food with more amount of calories. Dejected, he has thrown in the towel, saying that the Indian athletes have a long way to go. Indicating that it will take “extra long time” for the Indians to “bridge the gap or come close to world standards”, he says it is difficult to prepare a team in 10-12 months.

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