First Indian shot-putter in Olympics, Inderjeet Singh laments absence of his coach in Rio
The Zika virus is a pressing issue for athletes participating at the upcoming Rio Olympics. So much so that Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy, the four top-ranked golfers have withdrawn from the event. If there's an athlete who thinks he can not only beat his opposition on the track and field but the virus too in the south American country, it's India's very own shot putter Inderjeet Singh.
One would have expected Singh, who was present at a media event in the city on Friday along with four other Rio-bound athletes, to be scared about the virus. But instead of being scared, the 28-year-old left the entire room in splits.
"The whole world is coming there. Our (Indians') immunity is the best. Nothing will happen to us. Yeh Zika ko hum peeche chodke aayenge (we will leave this Zika virus behind) and come back with medals. Our aim is to give our best. Zika, vika, we will take care," said Singh, bronze medalist at the 2014 CWG.
No sooner did Singh say this than the entire hall that included other prominent sportspersons including badminton coach Pullela Gopichand burst into laughter.
"Zika ko hum peeche chodke aayenge (we will leave this Zika virus behind) and come back with medals. Our aim is to give our best. Zika, vika, we will take care," said Singh, bronze medalist at the 2014 CWG. No sooner did Singh say this than the entire hall that included other prominent sportspersons including badminton coach Pullela Gopichand burst into laughter.
At face value, it may be all laughs and smiles for Singh, who stands at a towering six feet and five inches. One may even feel that with such an approach, there's not much standing between him and a good performance at Rio. But it's not the virus that troubles Asia's top-ranked shot putter.
"I am preparing well and in the best of form going into my maiden Olympics. The only support I don't have is that I don't have my coach with me (Pritam Singh) at Rio. The government has spent a lot of money via the TOP (Target Olympic Podium) scheme that has seen athletes train abroad and get the best of facilities.
"But we are now at this stage where an athlete needs his coach with him. If your coach isn't there, how will I know where am I going wrong. And, my competition is only a one-day event. At that stage, an athlete needs mental support. I could forget what I have to do. Isn't that what a coach is for? No one takes care of you during those days like a coach does," added Singh, who became the first Indian track and field athlete to seal a berth in shot put with a throw of 20.65m at the Federation Cup in Mangalore in May last year.
His bone of contention with the rules and regulations don't just end here. Originally hailing from Shahid Bhagat Singh Nagar in Punjab, Singh's latest frustration has also been the high number of doping tests that athletes have to give these days.
"I have given six (tests) this year and more than 10 times last year. I have to inform them about my whereabouts. Everything. I wanted to watch Sultan a few days back, so I had to tell them as well. This is a kind of pressure on the athletes. I have never said no to doping or skipped a dope test. But rules should be more relaxed. We don't need this kind of unwanted pressure with the Olympics being so close.
They should, at least, inform us a day in advance. But their stance is that we might run away if we know about it. Plus, these tests last at least three hours. I have given 5-6 tests in the last one-and-a-half months. I have the papers to prove that. Mentally, it's a problem ki baar baar test karna padega (it's a problem that these tests are so periodic)," said Singh adding that his biggest threat will come from Poland, USA and Germany in Rio.
Know Singh
Bronze medallist in 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea
Gold medallist in 2015 Asian Athletic Championship, China
Gold medallist in 2015 Asian Grand Prix, Thailand
Gold medallist in 2015 Senior Open Athletics in Mangaluru, 2016 Kolkata
Currently ranked No. 1 in shot put amongst Asians
Personal best is 20.65m achieved at the 19th Federation Cup in Mangaluru (2015). The mark saw him seal qualification for the Rio Olympics
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