Eyes firmly set on 2024 Olympics, race walker Amit Khatri’s coach Chandan Singh has requested the federal government to incorporate his ward within the Target Olympics Podium Scheme (TOPS) after the teen received a silver medal within the World U-20 Athletics Championships in Nairobi on Saturday.
Khatri, who clocked 42 minutes 17.94 seconds, was main until the ultimate two laps of males’s 10000m race stroll in Nairobi however the host nation’s Heristone Wanyoni pulled forward of the 17-year-old Indian to win the gold with a private greatest time of 42:10.84s.
Heristone Wanyonyi 🇰🇪 wins Kenya’s first ever world race stroll title 🥇
He is the #WorldAthleticsU20 10,000m race stroll champion in a PB 42:10.84.
Amit 🇮🇳 wins 🥈 for India and @PaulMcGrathinho 🇪🇸 continues Spain’s historical past of race strolling success with a 🥉 pic.twitter.com/zhu4iSDvcO
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) August 21, 2021
Chandan mentioned Khatri, from Rohtak district in Haryana, has the potential to change into a top-class race walker within the subsequent few years and the purpose is to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“His walking technique is very good and he is a fast learner. He can become a top race walker in the country in the next few years but he will need funds going ahead. So, I request SAI to include him in the TOPS Scheme,” Chandan advised PTI from Army Sports Institute in Pune the place is he’s working.
“The aim is to prepare him for the 2024 Olympics. But he has no sponsor, nobody to back him financially. His father works in the BSF (non officer rank) and his mother is a housewife. So, it is difficult for Amit financially.”
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) TOPS initiative started in 2014, the place the federal government funds high athletes (core group) for his or her coaching and competitions. It was expanded final yr to incorporate junior athletes (developmental group) who will get Rs 25,000 out of pocket allowance per 30 days.
Had the honour of serving the medal ceremony right now and I couldn’t be extra proud to see Amit on the rostrum with the silver 🥈.@afiindia @WorldAthletics @Media_SAI @WeAreTeamIndia @WAU20Nairobi21 pic.twitter.com/sXgy46T55z
— Adille Sumariwalla OLY (@Adille1) August 21, 2021
“Amit’s family is doing whatever they can but I know it is difficult for them. Whenever he trains in Uttarakhand, I take care of his accommodation and food,” mentioned Chandan, who belongs to Uttarakhand.
“But sometimes we have to go to Ooty (for high altitude training) and then sometimes at SAI Bengaluru, so he needs financial support. His diet is also important,” mentioned Chandan, himself a former race walker who represented the nation in 2013 and 2015 world championships.
“When I first met him at NIS Patiala, he was very lean and thin but I found out that he can be groomed to become a top walker. Now he is in a better shape physically and fitness-wise.”
He mentioned Khatri could be put by way of gentle coaching for 20km race stroll within the coming months and put together him for subsequent yr’s Senior National Race Race Walk Championships which is generally held in February.
“I’ve to arrange him for 20km slowly and regularly. 10km occasion is just not there within the Olympics. We will begin 20km coaching within the subsequent couple of months. I’ve to do it slowly.
“He can take part in the National Senior Race Walk event next year so that he can qualify for the 2024 Olympics.”