Tips from Usain Bolt made my day: sprinter Nisar

PATIALA: A three-week long exposure tour from February 9 in Jamaica, the spiritual home of global sprinting, has added hugely to young Indian sprinter Nisar Ahmad’s perspective to sports. And meeting the biggest track and field star ever was a dream come true for the Delhi youngster from a humble background. “Meeting Usain Bolt was like a dream come true. It was great motivating factor to see and pose with him and get training tips,” Ahmad said on Monday. He is back from the short stint and is in Patiala for the Federation Cup athletics meet.

Though the interaction with the retired super star was so brief, more like a 100m dash, it was an eye-opener, said the sprinter. Bolt, a winner of eight Olympic gold medals, retired last year.

His advice to the 17-year-old Ahmad was simple – the main focus should be on the basics of sprinting. “The concept of training in Jamaica is entirely different from what we have been doing in India. The emphasis is more on the technical aspects, including good arm action, and not running endless repetitions on the track.”

A group of 13 athletes were part of a development project, sponsored by GAIL India Limited, with an aim to improve the country’s medal prospects at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The Indian athletes were based

in Kingston and also met Bolt’s coach Glenn Mills as well as his former training partner Yohann Blake, who has won two Olympic gold and silver each.

“We got a pat on the back from Mills and Blake as they were impressed with our basic speed at this age,” said Ahmad.

As a souvenir he got the autographs of Bolt and Blake on his running spikes.