Fourth National domestic, a watershed meet

By A. Vinod

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, AUG. 11. The fourth National domestic circuit meet, organised by the Travancore Marathon Society at the University stadium here on Saturday, will mark a watershed in the history of Indian athletics. At least in terms of prize-money which is on offer, that is.

The one-day meet, which has gained in prominence after being designated by AAFI as the final trial for the Indian team selection for the Asian championship to be held in Jakarta this month-end, will witness the medal-winners of the various events share an enviable booty of Rs. 12,00,000. Something unheard off till now in this country.

The huge prize-money on offer as such is also expected to motivate those who have already made the grade for the Jakarta meet to perform at a higher level, though doubts on the genuineness of at least some performances will persist. This on account of the heated debate on drug abuse that has been going on through the last few weeks, with none other than the legendary P.T. Usha herself having blown the lid with her insistence that all National record-breakers should be tested before their performances are recognised by the AAFI.

Usha is no longer in the scene, having announced her retirement since. But the points raised by her in a letter to the AAFI still hold good and will continue to be discussed in right earnest until at least the Sydney Olympics is over. And no athlete will be beyond suspicion until those performances which under normal circumstances would have been lauded are repeated in the international arena under the scrutiny of a recognised test against drug abuse.

This is certainly a bit ironic. And painful for those who have strove hard, fair and square through a long and gruelling season, to achieve their objectives. But then, the blame for all this could be laid only at the door of the AAFI, which surprisingly has also not made any arrangement for the collection of the mandatory samples to fight against the menace here on Saturday.

All the same, the fare is to be blessed by the presence of all the top-notchers in the Indian athletics scene today. It could also mark the much-awaited return of K.M. Beenamol to the track for the first time after she came up with that sizzler in Kiev. The Kerala athlete should also be keen to perform at her best and prove that her recent `record' run was by no means a flash in the pan.

That apart, attention is certain to remain focussed on those athletes who have performed consistently during the last few weeks to come up with those marks that are yet to be ratified by the AAFI. That impressive line-up should include the likes of Shakti Singh, Parmajit Singh, Bahadur Prasad and P. Anil Kumar in the men's section and Neelam J. Singh, Gurmeet Kaur, Rachita Mistry and Pramila Ganapathy in the women's section.

Fifteen events have been marked in the day's schedule, but additions are likely as in the case of the men's 110 hurdles if the AAFI technical committee thinks it fit that the event could produce another qualifier for the Jakarta meet. However, the prize-money will be awarded only to the medal winners of those events already scheduled and will be shared in the following manner: Rs. 50,000 for the gold, Rs. 20,000 for the silver and Rs. 10,000 for the bronze.

Not a bad sum for a day's work.

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