'The Govt Can Do Much More'

Unlike her rivals from Russia and China, she neitherhas a sponsor nor a specialist coach but India's main medal hope AnjaliVedpathak Bhagwat is preparing in right earnest to hit the bull's eye in the 10m airrifle event at the Athens Olympics next year.

Anjali, the only Indian shooter to have secured a berthin the Olympics so far, is concentrating on the ISSF World Cups preceding the Games to fine-tune her technique.

"I would like to experiment different things atthese ISSF events under the pressure of competition," Anjali said emphasisingthat she will not bother about adding to her collection of one gold and threesilver medals in World Cups.

The CISF inspector, who clinched a quota place to Athens bywinning a silver medal at the World Cup in USA last year, is not one to sitback and rue at the odds, but facts do present a grim picture.

"For almost two years till the ammunition arrivedearly this year, we did not get even a single round to train. We were forced tohave dry practice.

"Abroad you can buy everything over the counterand in countries like Germany, the national team is their national property. Theshooters do not have to bother about anything other than theirperformance," said Anjali who is training in the Capital along with other members ofthe national squad which will compete in the ISSF World Cup in Zagreb, Croatia,from June 2 to 9.

Anjali is convinced that the Government can do more to help the sport like finding sponsors."The government tries to help but still more canbe done. If the government approaches the private sector they will come forwardto sponsor," she said.

Though she was ranked No.1 in the world during lastJuly-August, Anjali is yet to capture the corporate sector's attentionunlike a few of the chess players in the country.

"The Hinduja Foundation sponsored me during theSydney Olympics and Mahindras came forward during the World Cup in Atlanta lastyear," said Anjali, currently ranked sixth in the world.

But more than sponsors, it is the absence of aspecialist coach that Anjali is more concerned about.

"We had a very good coach, Laszlo Zucsak fromHungary during 1999-2000 and because of whom the team did very well. But afterthe last Olympics, India did not renew his contract and Japan quickly netted himas their coach.

"It's because of him I could achieve this much.But after Zucsak no one was appointed and we do not have a specialist coach tillnow," she said.

Stressing that she does not need a coach at thisjuncture, as it may be difficult to adjust to a new training regime beforethe Olympics, Anjali said she gets in touch with Zucsak whenever in trouble.

"But for the B-level team it is very important tohave a specialist who can help in the technical aspects," she said.

PTI