Even as the London Olympics looms ahead, the man who masterminded the Indian women’s 4x400 relay team's stunning performances at the Commonwealth and Asian Games last year isn’t at hand to direct their preparations for an Olympic medal.

COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

Ukrainian coach Yuri Ogorodnik’s contract with the Indian team expired after the Asian Games, and the girls have been left in the lurch as he returned home. “It’s impossible to even attempt a medal without Yuri,” said Ashwini Akkunji, who is recovering from a fracture in her left arm. “He knows everything about us. He knows what it takes to win a medal at the Olympics or World Championships. Our results at the CWG and Asian Games were entirely due to him. At the moment, we are clueless about the way ahead. There is no communication from the AFI (Athletics Federation of India). And with ongoing government action against the federation officials, there is no clarity on our preparation for the Olympics.”

Ogorodnik left for Ukraine after the successful Asian Games campaign, in which the relay team won gold. For the last three months, however, there has been no word on whether he will be back, or even if the team can join him in Ukraine. “I’ve been training with Yuri for three years,” says Ashwini’s teammate Sini Jose. “The team came together under him two years ago for the CWG preparations. His expertise has shown in our results. The national camp is beginning at NIS Patiala but his name is not on the list. It will be difficult to work with any other coach. Besides, we don’t have time.”

Ashwini says the Ukranian coach’s approach is vastly different from his Indian counterparts’, and with his experience of producing world and Olympic champions, he is critical to their preparations. “Every day is important, but we haven’t even been training together. If the system cannot even guarantee our coach for us, how can it expect a medal at the Olympics?”

With longtime AFI secretary Lalit Bhanot in jail, acting president Adille Sumariwalla said he had ‘no idea’ of Yuri’s status. "I've been travelling, so I don’t know. Sports Authority of India has to sanction the money. It's not in AFI’s hands. We’d said he should continue, but it’s up to the government. They’ve slashed the sports budget to one-third as it is. It’s disturbing. I can’t look at 2012 (Olympics). I'm looking at 2020.”