MSWA draws road map for Commonwealth Youth Games 2008

Pune, May 18: Maharashtra State Weightlifting Association (MSWA) has chalked out an ambitious plan for the Commonwealth Youth Games 2008 to be held at the sprawling Shiv Chhatrapati Sports City Mahalunge-Balewadi near here.

MSWA President BR Gulati, a former Asian Weightlifting Association (AWA) acting chairman, told reporters here today that keeping the interest of the lifters of the state in mind the plan has been chalked out and will comprise year-round coaching camps, galvanizing the district units apart from four major domestic championships before the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games.

''Our main focus will be to pick boys and girls in the 16 and 18 years age group, who will receive proper training in the run up to the Games,'' Gulati said.

In addition to this, the association will also concentrate on the 14-year age groups as a long-term plan to regain the past glory once enjoyed by Maharashtra and dominated the national championship in the distant past, he added.

To achieve this, he said the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) will supply equipment as well as coaches to train about 13 boys and seven girls in the year-round coaching camp. These boys and girls will be shortlisted from three districts - Aurangabad, Nanded and Solapur.

Out of the 13 affiliated district units, only seven - Mumbai, Pune, Thane, Sangli, Kolhapur, Jalgaon and Ratnagiri are active, while six other units have to be galvanised to become active to take the sport to the grassroot level, MSWA general secretary Suresh Kapre said adding that three districts - Chandrapur, Akola and Wardha-have also sent their formal applications for affiliation.

UNI