At least a part of the 32-member athletics contingent is not going to feel homesick during the Commonwealth Games starting on Wednesday in Glasgow.
For sure this is not being said in jest. Cast a keen eye at the 'who's who' of participants in athletics events and it will not be difficult to figure out that the near and dear ones of at least three top athletes have been given a ticket to Glasgow because they are also their personal coaches.
If discus throwers Krishna Punia and Seema Punia will have the comfort of their spouses' —Virender and Ankush — company respectively. Then Vikas Gowda will have his father, Shiv, by his side.
Out of the 11 coaches accompanying the athletics contingent, six have been chosen for the throw events. As if this is not enough, three coaches will be travelling only for the discus throw.
As per an Athletics Federation of India (AFI) insider, this has been done "under pressure" from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). Chief coach Bahadur Singh, a two-time gold medallist at the Asian Games, will lead an army of coaches that includes shot put coach Shakti Singh, discus coach Shiv Gowda, Ankush Punia and Virender Punia while Kashinath for the javelin.
Interestingly, only Om Prakash Punia will take part in shot put event.
On one hand, three men and a woman javelin thrower have the services of their coach Kashinath. But hammer throwers, Kamalpreet Singh and Chandrodaya N Singh, will have no one to guide them during the important competition.
One of the most affected is triple jump national record holder Arpinder Singh. Ranked No. 1 in CWG and Asia, he is considered India's best bet to win gold in Glasgow. Arpinder set a mark of 17.17m during the recent inter-state meet in Lucknow and wanted his coach SS Pannu to accompany him to the Games. But it hasn't happened.
He has also written a letter to the sports ministry regarding this but no one but there has not been any development. Arpinder is currently ranked No. 6 in the world.
"This is clearly not done. Arpinder is our top bet and having his coach on the sidelines would certainly have helped his cause. All our efforts regarding this were in vain for some reasons beyond explanation," said a top AFI official on condition of anonymity.
Sprint coach Anatoly Vardha and legendary athlete PT Usha are also part of the contingent.
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