Longer training period required, says Manikyalu

Teams for major international sports meets must be selected two to three years in advance and given thorough training and sent to foreign countries for training and competition, said former Olympian weightlifter M.V. Manikyalu on Thursday. However, the selection process is not completed till the major events are very near.

The Sports Authority of India and the all-India federations of various sports differ in selection and politicians in the federations intervene in the process as they have their own compulsions. The problem persists in spite of the selection made according to the qualifying mark of the major meet and tournaments and a headache for the players is when more than one reaches the qualifying mark.

For a major event like Olympics, the competitors must be sent to the venue at least 15 days in advance because they should get physically acclimatised to the weather and food there. They should train under these conditions. But unfortunately all these things are not happening in our country even now, he lamented as he spoke to

The Hindu on the eve of Rio Olympic Games.

Mr. Manikyalu also found sportspersons from the South and the North not mingling with one another in any international event. “Also our sportspersons do not have the involvement or patriotism compared to sportspersons from other countries, who feel they have to achieve something for their country when they see the flag of their country. Our players perform mostly for themselves,” he says.