India’s jumps coach Bedros Bedrosian is of the opinion that athletes need a qualified psychologist during training sessions prior to big events.
“Many don’t have enough confidence, and moreover, an athlete like Ankit Sharma is a charged-up guy, sometimes he will not sleep during tournaments as he will be thinking of his jumps. Now with jumps (long & triple), 400m and javelin being considered priority events for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, a psychologist [during preparations] will be of great help,” the 63-year-old Romanian told The Hindu here on Tuesday.
Bedros felt it would be tough for Ankit and triple jumper Arpinder Singh to win a gold in the CWG and named women long jumpers Nayna James and Neena as gold medal prospects.
“In men’s long jump, there are quite a few South Africans [Luvo Manyonga, Ruswahl Samaa] who are world-class, and in triple jump too, the competition will be tough, but I think Arpinder will do well,” he said.
Bedros added that the 25-year-old Ankit puts undue pressure on himself during competitions and implied that as a reason for his downfall.
He, however, expressed confidence that Ankit will come back stronger in the CWG and Asian Games.
As a coach who has trained the Saudi Arabian national team including Asian champions Hussein Taher Al-Sabee and Mohammed Al-Khuwalidi — and athletes from other countries like Qatar, Puerto Rico, Dominician Republic and Colombia — Bedros is highly regarded.
Former National triple jump champion Nizamuddin said the Romanian can change the face of jumps in India. “I expect jumpers to be more consistent from now on. I am sure we can expect medals in the CWG and Asiad in jumps,” he said.
His contract with the Sports Authority of India (SAI) will end after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but Bedros is keen to continue for another term.
“I like India, its people, its athletes. There has been no disciplinary problems in the National camp at Thiruvananthapuram. My only problem is to prevent them [jumpers] from over-training!”
