Sports

'Don't Chase The Impossible'

'You should always exploit the events for which you have natural talent and facilities instead of going after something that is beyond your reach,' says the Kenyan long-distance legend

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'Don't Chase The Impossible'
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Don’t chase the impossible. Look at Kenya. We have natural talent, mountainous terrain and good climate for long-distance running and we focus our efforts on distance runners. No point chasing something that you can’t get. We don’t have big stadia, neither do we bid for big games. But we produce champion runners.

Be patient with distance runners. I first came to India in 1985 and had suggested to some sports administrators in this country to establish distance running schools at a higher altitude. This idea led to the launch of the Special Areas project of the Sports Authority of India. But I am told the scheme was shut after some years. You have to be patient with long distance runners. They mature late but stay there for several years.

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Indian athletes are hard-working. During my second visit to India I conducted a month-long coaching camp for your runners. They were very talented, hard-working and willing to learn. But they were not guided properly. I did work on them and showed them the way. But it needs constant monitoring. I am sure under the right training they can do wonders.

Being a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), I have lots of travelling to do. I have a heavy load of administrative work also. But I still train several youngsters at my camp at Eldoret in Rift Valley. Your runners are most welcome to come and stay there and train with my boys. I am sure Indian runners would love the surroundings which are similar to your hilly regions in Himachal Pradesh.

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It would be better if you pick some young talented runners now and put them under a good coach. I am sure they would do well in the next Olympic Games in Beijing. What they need is a little support from your authorities and also the media. Good luck to them.

(As told to Norris Pritam)

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