On his first coaching assignment to India, gymnastics head coach Vladimir Chertkov faces the uphill task of producing champions in a sport which is still in its infancy here.
In a country where gymnasts still do not have a work ethic, have to train without proper equipment and a fixed training programme, Chertkov feels that his job will not be easy.
“Gymnasts need to practice on new and advanced equipment. Training facilities in Pune are excellent but they have very outdated equipment. After many requests to the Sports Authority of India, we finally have two pieces of new equipment, floor mats and vaulting table,” Chertkov, who is training the Commonwealth Games core probables at the Balewadi sports complex, told this newspaper from Pune.
“I am really surprised, the federation need to focus on this matter but they are concentrating on all the other aspects except this,” Chertkov said on Wednesday.
Chertkov said that he had sent the full list of competitive and training equipment to SAI for the preparations in August last year but still they have been unable to provide it.
“We don’t know when we will get the new equipment, may be in one month or a week prior to the Games,” he said. The coach, who hails from gymnastics powerhouse Russia, boasts of 30 years of experience in the sport. Chertkov is also worried that lack of equipment at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex make players lose their home advantage.
“On September 6 the teams have to move to New Delhi for practice on competitive equipment, but if we don’t get the equipment by that time, we will lose on the precious home advantage,” the coach said. Being a most sought after coach, Chertkov began his year-long training camp in September last year.
“Today I see big changes in all these aspects. Players are more confident. They follow proper routines. After strenuous sessions they change body forms. They started as beginners but now they can compete with any world class team,” the 52-year-old said. The teams participated in five international tournaments besides a training camp in France in the past one year.
On the weakness of the team, he said: “There is only one, lack of experience. They should participate in more and more tournaments to get better exposure. “I still believe we have got very good medal-winning chances as we have extremely talented athletes, who have toiled all this year,” he added.