Dutee’s coach doesn’t have access to competition arena
NEW DELHI: Putting aside off field issues, national record holder in women’s 100m Dutee Chand and her coach Nagapuri Ramesh are staying focused for the Asian Games. The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has given Ramesh ‘P’ category accreditation for track and field competition, starting August 25 in Indonesia.
Officials having ‘P’ category card aren’t entitled to stay at the Athletes village or enter the competition arena. Moreover, they will have to make their own arrangements outside the village. To visit the training arena inside the village, a daily pass will be needed.
Also, the coach doesn’t know whether the ministry or the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) will bear his expenses. Besides Ramesh, Mohinder Singh Dhillon, coach of Punjab’s shot putter Tejinderpal Singh Toor, has also got ‘P’ accreditation.
Despite the issues, Ramesh isn’t distracted.
“Last three weeks are vital. A slight error in training could be detrimental,” he said. “There is a lot of pressure but the best way is to stay focused for a podium finish. We want to end the medal drought in 100m.”
Since Rachita Mistry’s bronze medal in 1998 Bangkok Asian Games, 100m sprinters have failed to climb the podium. “It will be a big achievement if we manage to win a medal. Moreover, it will erase the memory of missing 2014 Incheon Asian Games due to IAAF hyperandrogenism policy,” said Dutee’s coach.
Dutee was debarred in 2014, but later appealed to CAS and got a reprieve in 2015.