The Indian elite race walking team doesn’t seem to be in a negotiation mode as far as ranking is concerned. However, nothing less than being among the top race walkers in the world is what our team desires to achieve.
The National coaching camp for Indian elite Race Walk team for the preparation for 2016 Rio Olympics is in full swing at SAI Lakshmibai National College for Physical Education in the capital city of Kerala, Thiruvanthapuram.
The Country’s best race walkers are getting trained under the head coach Mr.Alexander Artsybashev including Asian Games silver medalist and National record holder Khushbir Kaur who became the first Indian women to get a medal at a major competition in women’s race walk, 20km National record holder K.T. Irfan who finished 10th in London Olympics, 50km National record holder Sandeep Kumar with six other elite athletes being part of the camp.
To race walk at an elite level requires strong and active feet, ankles, hip-flexors and core muscle, all developed to a high level through practice, practice and more practice. Thus rigorous training and proper technique is the key to success and ensuring that your training program maximizes speed and endurance, while at the same time minimizing the risk of injuries or illness.
The training session at the camp includes the methodical plan for athletes ensuring the proper recovery. The SAI specialists are being engaged in preparing a balanced diet and are closely monitoring the camp while giving all the scientific support including psychological, physical and nutritional amongst others.
Athletes are now focusing on their next challenge which includes the Asian Athletics Championships 2016, Nomi, Japan and forthcoming IAAF team championships. Coach Alexander said “We as a team are now preparing for the International events so that they perform at a higher level which means getting medals and achieving new benchmarks. This will boost-up their confidence and motivation to perform on the big stage “Rio Olympics”.
Coach Alexander has worked out a complete training and competition plan for the athletes which will take place in India as well as abroad. The program has been in progress since October and will continue until the Olympic Games 2016. The coach is also looking forward to train his walkers and compete in local competition in one of the most famous training centres in Europe. Seven race walkers Khushbir Kaur, Sandeep Kumar, Gurmeet Singh, Chandan Singh, Baljinder Singh, Manish Rawat have already qualified for the Rio Olympics and recently, after IAAF amended the Rio qualification standards Ms. Sapana has also booked her birth for Rio.
