Gymnast Ashish waits for equipment to train

NEW DELHI - Ashish Kumar did the unthinkable by becoming the first Indian gymnast to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games. Just a month after his remarkable showing, he does not have access to standard equipment for training ahead of the London Olympics.

After returning from Guangzhou in China last month, Ashish has been training on obsolete equipment in his hometown Allahabad. He says his training schedule for the Olympics is hampered by the outdated tools.

The 19-year-old claims that a new set of equipment, procured by the Sports Authority of India for the Commonwealth Games, is lying at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex in New Delhi.

I have wasted a whole month as I was scared to push myself on the wornout equipment, some as old as 1989. Parts of the flooring is cracked. I am aware that four new sets are kept in Delhi. I have requested them to send one to Allahabad so that all of us can train here, Ashish told IANS.

Springboards, floor, roman rings and parallel bars are part of the standard equipment.

The teenager stresses the importance of regular training. Every day is crucial if he has to qualify for London. And for making the Olympics cut, Ashish will have to have a podium finish at the World Championships in October.

Nobody expected a gymnastics medal at the Commonwealth and Asian Games, but it came. It came with the support of the government. We got a foreign coach and were taken overseas for training-cum-competition. Given the resources I am confident of doing well at the World Championships and the Olympics, he said.

Asked about the role of Russian coach Vladmir Chertkov in enhancing his performance levels, Ashish says: I would want him back. He made a huge difference to the team. I have been a gymnast for 15 years but it was his guidance and expertise that enabled me to win the unexpected medals.

Ashish says there are any number of highly talented gymnasts in Allahabad and the future of the sport in the country is bright.

I would say Allahabad is a hub for gymnastics in India. There are so many youngster who are pursuing the sport, he said.

The gymnast has written to the sports ministry on the equipment issue but is yet to hear from it.

The ministry, however, is unlikely to take a call on the issue of foreign coaches and funding athletes to prepare for the London Olympics.

All decisions will be taken next month. We have received feedback from the sports federations on retaining the coaches or replacing them. The fund allocation for athletes will be decided by then, Injeti Srinivas, joint secretary in the sports ministry, told IANS.

(Bharat Sharma can be contacted at bharat.s@ians.in)