GFI focus on 2010 CW Games

Chandigarh, Jan 2 (UNI) The Gymnastic Federation of India is eying medals in the 2010 Commonwealth Games to be organised by New Delhi.

Disclosing the GFI plan, federation secretary general Kan Singh Rathore told UNI ''Our focus is on the sub-juniors and juniors.

If spotted, nursed and nourished scientifically, these young gymnasts (pointing towards players who participated in the Sub-Junior Nationals in Mohali last week) would be our medal hopes.

The federation is chalking out plan to ensure medal security in the 2010 Commonwealth Games. We are the hosts and our gymnasts should win medals.'' Saying the standard of Indian gymnasts has improved, Kan Singh Rathore admitted that it was not enough to fetch us a number of medals. ''Our gymnasts fetched sixth position in the Manchester Commonwealth Games and seventh in the Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

Our aim is to train the gymnasts to finish on top in 2010 Commonwealth Games. It should not be a problem in CW Games,'' said the GFI secretary general in an informal chat with this correspondent during the XX Sub-Junior National Artistic and XVII Senior National Rhythmic Championships held at Shivalik Public School Multipurpose Indoor Stadium in Mohali.

The GFI will soon make zonal level selections to spot out talent to train them for the Commonwealth Games as it is the young crop which will fetch India the honour in 2010 Games. ''We will go to the root level to identify talent,'' declared Kan Singh Rathore.

Representatives of Sports Authority of India, Government of India, doctors, experts, trainers, including foreign coaches, representatives from artistic and rhythmic would be actively involved in spotting and grooming the youngsters into championships.

''We will discuss with the Sports Ministry to engage foreign gymnastic coaches to train the Indian gymnasts. The Chinese coaches have gone back some time back. Even the Centre of Excellence in Allahabad is without a foreign trainer,'' said Rathore.

More basic facilities, like infrastructure, standard equipment, residential facilities and foreign coaches are urgently required. He also advocated that more CoEs on the pattern of Allahabad and Hyderabad should be established.

The federation secretary admitted that the number of qualified coaches in India are limited. Only AV Giriraj (Andhra Pradesh) is the only FIG (Level III) qualified coach. Among other FIG qualified trainers are Ashok Mishra (Orissa), Sunil Chetteri (Services Sports Control Board), Sanjog (Maharashtra), Jagtar Singh (Punjab) and JB Chakraborty (West Bengal).

India have 17 international judges for men and women artistic, rhythmic gymnastics and aerobics.

UNI