Two years in the past, the Indian ladies’s 4x100m relay workforce was very assured of creating it to the Tokyo Olympics. That didn’t occur and the final yr has seen one setback after one other, particularly on the doping entrance.
Olympian S. Dhanalakshmi, and later M.V. Jilna, who had been set to go to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham final yr as a part of the dash relay workforce, failed dope exams and in December, National 100m record-holder Dutee Chand — a former World University Games champion and Asian Games silver medallist — additionally fell into the doping internet.
And, in accordance with National coach Radhakrishnan Nair, prime sprinter Hima Das suffered an damage simply earlier than the April 15 Indian Grand Prix in Bengaluru forcing her to overlook the Federation Cup.
The Asian Championships (Thailand, July), World Championships (Hungary, August) and the Asian Games (China, September) are lined up this yr however now it appears just like the dash relay workforce has nearly collapsed.
Fastest this yr
“I can’t say it’s no longer there. You still have Jyothi Yarraji, Archana (Suseendran) and myself. We need just need one more, one more girl from here. So, for the Asians, we are still there,” stated Srabani Nanda, the nation’s quickest girl this yr after profitable the 100m gold on the Federation Cup in a season-best 11.57s on Tuesday, in a chat with The Hindu right here.
Srabani, fifth in India’s all-time 100m record together with her 11.36s which got here in Florida in June 2021, has been coaching in Jamaica underneath Stephen Francis who had coached Olympic and World champions Elaine Thompson-Herah and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce earlier.
Bring them collectively
So, she shouldn’t be a National camper and the Athletics Federation of India has a coverage that it’s going to not embody non-campers in its relay groups for main championships.
“I don’t know who is in the camp and who is not. If athletes are out of camp, you have to bring them together and make a team. If the federation brings us together, it will work,” stated the Olympian, a former Asian 200m bronze medallist, who was within the dash relay workforce that completed fifth within the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
“India is one of the best in Asia, so we cannot feel like we are not there. Athletes are still training, putting their work so you cannot put that mindset into them right now. Because, this is the start of the season.”
Can’t management folks
What’s operating in her thoughts in regards to the athletes who’ve fallen into the dope internet?
“As an individual athlete in an individual sport, I don’t think about other athletes. I can’t control people, I would just say disappointing and hopefully it should not happen,” stated Srabani, who ran in 5 Jamaican meets this yr earlier than opening her Indian season in Ranchi.
“I don’t really like this, what young people are into. Hopefully, I can change it doing everything clean.”
“And more than that, they should know the impact. By doping, you spoil your body, your life and your achievements.”
While the 200m took the 32-year-old from Odisha to the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, she seems to be focusing extra on the 100m this yr. And she’s obtained a giant aim within the shorter dash.
“I go on and off. I haven’t done much 200 this season because that’s the plan of training. I did a lot of 100m but I went to the Olympics in the 200 so I feel it’s my pet event but that’s not always the case. When I am fit, I go for both.
“I always want to run fast, do a sub-11 (National record, Dutee Chand’s 11.17s). That was always my goal since I went to Jamaica. So hopefully, with God’s grace it will come.”
Jamaican classes
Her 4 years in Kingston supplied her loads of classes.
“It’s a big experience for us Indian athletes to be with those people (Jamaicans), they are the world’s best. I was like a queen in a pond (back home), then I met the sharks in the ocean,” stated Srabani who’s supported in a giant means by the Odisha Government.
But initially, progress was very sluggish.
“For the first few years, I didn’t improve much because it was completely different. Now, I’m feeling better technically.”
Tough life
The sudden advancing of main National championships just like the Federation Cup and the Inter-State meet, which are choice meets for the Asian and World Championships and the Asian Games, has upset athletes’ plans in a giant means. The downside is larger for athletes like Srabani who are coaching overseas.
“The first thing is the sudden jump in the cost of air tickets and then we have to change plans and rush into the season. I don’t know how everybody is managing,” she stated.
