Come train in Jamaica, Asafa Powell tells Indian athletes

Jamaica and India are similar in many ways as a sporting nation. In both countries, cricket has always been integral part of culture but athletes like Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell have managed to bring in a change in Jamaica, which Indian athletes are yet to achieve.

At 6-feet-3-inches, Powell holds the world record for most finishes in 100m under 10 seconds. The 2016 Rio Games 4x100 relay gold medallist took some time out on the day of the Delhi Half Marathon here on Sunday to talk to DNA:

You met Indian legends like Milkha Singh and PT Usha on Friday. How was your interaction with them?

It was amazing for me to meet the Indian legends. It’s always great to meet the stars of yesteryears and learn from their experiences. I’m thankful to my sponsors Puma for giving me this opportunity.

What, according to you, is the problem with Indian athletes. When they start, they look promising but then get static. Is it about training or lack of scientific training?

Though I don’t know the background of Indian athletes much, but it could be a number of reasons. From lack of support to lack of interest or even the dominance of a game like cricket. There is so much name and fame in cricket and that’s the reason why upcoming athletes face difficulty in focussing on games other than cricket.

There was a similar situation in Jamaica during your younger days. Was cricket a distracting factor for you?

It’s quite the same in Jamaica. We also had a lot of focus on cricket or football. But I think it is the support from crowd along with role of coaches and federations that changed the entire scenario there in last few years. The role of federations and corporates are huge to promote lesser popular sports.

What if any Indian athlete or federation approaches you with a coaching assignment?

I did speak about this with the Indian legends. We, in Jamaica, welcome any athlete if he or she is willing to come and join us as training partners. Even federations can sponsor their coaches to seek higher levels of coaching in Jamaica. This would certainly help Indian athletes prepare themselves for high-level competitions.

How will you describe your great rivalry with the fastest man on Earth, Usain Bolt. Do you feel unlucky to have born in same era, feel fortunate to be part of such great rivalry?

Well, I don’t feel unfortunate for sure. I’m fortunate to be born in the same era where we have the greatest of athletes. I have done my bit and broken many a records and did so well in four Olympic Games (2004 to 2016). The irony about individual sport is that there is always one person who is going to stand out. In a way, I’m so fortunate to be born in same era where the crowd is witnessing such great rivalry.

KIPCHOGE WINS DELHI MARATHON

Reigning Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya won the men’s race of Delhi Half Marathon 59.44 while Ethiopia’s Worknesh Degefa clinched the women’s title in 01:07.42.  Ethiopia’s Yigrem Demelash, who clocked his personal best of 59.48, finished second among the men while Kenyan Augustine Choge was third in 60.01.