‘India need Olympic champs in athletics’
Former India athlete Milkha Singh, whose feats on the track are being replayed in public memory with the recently released Bollywood biopic, has advocated a sports academy-based system in the country to produce athletes who can do well at the Olympics.
“We need players who can do well in the Olympics, specially in athletics, which is the number one sport in the Games. One Usain Bolt has made Jamaica famous. Why can’t we produce another Milkha Singh or a P.T. Usha in a country of over a billion,” a critical Milkha said here on the sidelines of the launch of a national level school championship to unearth talent by SportsMentor.
“Talent should be identified but the follow-up is very important. Let there be a sports academy in every state where they can study and pursue the sport. And their progress should be checked from time to time.”
Milkha proposed that the Sports Authority of India introduce a contract-based coaching system wherein the coaches be set specific targets in a given time period.
“We need coaches who can produce results for us. I propose to SAI to appoint them on contract basis and set them targets for say, every four years.” The 77-year-old, however, also wants Indian athletes to train with more willpower and resolve.
“Whosoever has the willpower and the discipline can touch the sky. I have been to China many times with my son recently and there they train as if there is no tomorrow. When I started, I couldn’t even spell athletics, did not know what is 200m or 400m. Then I started running, I came to know of Asiad, Olympics, nationals and other events.
“I came back from the Melbourne Games disappointed and asked my coach of the world record in 400m and promised God that I would break the record (45.9s). I pushed myself to the limit, filling up buckets with sweat and was literally on the death bed many times. I vomited blood and many times blood came through urine but I was determined to do it,” Milkha said narrating an incident from his career, which is well captured in the movie.
Delhi cricketer Unmukt Chand, who was sharing the dias, got a compliment from the legendary athlete when the U-19 World Cup winning captain was referred to as ‘who will soon be Dhoni’.
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