NEW DELHI: The suspense over whether Ramesh Krishnan spearheading India’s challenge in the Asian games tennis competitions is over.

The country’s number one player has finally conveyed his inability to compete in the Asiad,

Now it will be left to the five member squad of Zeeshan Ali, S. Vasudevan, Leander Paes, Rohit Rajpal and Mr, Balram Singh (coach cum manager) 10 keep the India flag flying at the Beijing Tennis courts,

Meanwhile, the government has not cleared swimmer Walter Pereira as the second reserve in the 4×200 swimming relay squad. Those cleared earlier are Khazan Singh, Xavier Sebastian, Vishal Kapor, Rajiv Nagpal and Rananjoy Punja.

It also did not clear shooter Aina Asma Khanum and Maj. Gen CPS Bindra as manager of the canoeing and kayaking team, The Russian coach and an Indian ‘coach (doubling as manager) were cleared earlier,

Sources said the name of Mr Tarlochan ‘Singh is under consideration for the post of public relations officer.

Yachtsmen

NEW DELHI: A three member yachting team left from Bombay to Beijing on Tuesday night to take part in the Asian games being held in the Chinese capital from September 22 to October seven,

The manager of yachting team, CDR R. Kanwara said there that the team comprising Lt Kelly Rao, Lt P.K Garg and Lt CDR, HD Motivala the first squad to depart for the games will be joined by the remaining five on Sept seven.

The team carried one laser and one enterprise boat with them he said

CDR Kanwara, Lt Farokh Tarapore, Cyrus Cama, Nitin Mongia and coach CDR S.K Mongia will reach Beijing and then the entire squad moves to Qinhuangdou, 350 kms east of Beijing, where the competition will be held, he said.

He said the Indian team will pick up six of their boats which were shipped to the venue earlier and start training by Sept 10.

Wrestlers left grappling

NEW DELHI: An unexpected blow in the form of a drug use development may leave the Indian wrestlers bound for the Beijing Asian Games grappling with a problem they could have done without.

One of the nine wrestlers, Jagdeep Singh, tested positive for use of a banned substance and his absence will affect the Indian medals accumulation in the discipline, according to chief coach K.N Singh.

A squad of six freestyle and three Greco Roman wrestlers was cleared by the government and at least four medals were expected with Jagdeep Singh being a sure shot.

Ironically Jagdeep Singh who competes in the S2kg weight category, had picked up 1 bronze medal at the last Asian championships in Tehran as an Iranian bronze winner ‘was caught in the drug test and consequently medal moved to him.

However, India canstill lok up to freestyler wrestlers Sanjay Kumar (90kg), Subash Verma (100kg) and Greco Roman Kaka Pawar (S8kg) and Malkhan Singh (100kg), considered formidable matmen with good record.

In fact all the six freestyle wrestlers had taken part in an international tournament at Akaban, USSR, during July and returned home with four silvers and a bronze medal,

Earlier Sanjay Kumar wrestled for the gold medal at the Beijing International Tournament during June this year while Malkhan Singh picked up the bronze in the meet where all the Asian powers took part.

In Greco Roman, Kaka Pawar won a gold and silver in Baghdad and Syrian International tournaments respectively.

However, not much can be read into these successes for at the Asian games countries like Iran, China, South Korea, North Korea and Japan have always had a firm grip.

The best results in the sport have been obtained in the commonwealth games where the participation is limited while at the ‘Asian games so far India has collected « total of 40 medals (eight golds, 11 silver and 20 bronzes) with three golds, six silver and three bronzes at 1962 Jakarta games.

It will be a testing time for the present squad who had been undergoing intensive coaching for the past two years under Supervision of Soviets grant taropin (freestyle) and V Ruvynitsky (Greco Roman),  I addition they have had several international tournaments,

However, one drawback that continue to confront most Indian wrestlers is the transition from mud to malls, which is never complete. As coach KN Singh pointed out that while wrestlers know the techniques they do not apply in bouts.

The long spells of training camps, according to the chief coach, helped the wrestlers build endurance which will be an important factor.

Another significant development has been that the Greco Roman wrestlers were selected separately and coached by a different coach unlike in the past.

Earlier, those wrestlers who could not get selected in freestyle were asked to take partin the Greco Roman and hopefully the fresh approach proves fruitful.

Traditionally Iran, South Korea, China and Japan have dominated the events in this style which have been held only thrice in Asian games, in 1962 (Jakarta), 1974 (Tehran) and 1986 (Seoul).

List of entries

BELJING: Computerized list of entries for the 11th Asian games released by Beijing Asian Games Organising committee (tabulated under country name, number of events entered in brackets, number of athlete’s and total strength of team including officials, technical and medical personnel): Afghanistan (3) 9, 13, Bangladesh (1), 60, 79, Bhutan (1), 4, 6, Brunei (6), 23, 40, China (27 plus 2), 670, 839, Hong Kong (2),218, 284, Indonesia (14), 133, 190, India (14) 0, 0, Iran (13), 125, 168. Iraq (12) 54, 95. Jordan (3), 15, 23, Japan (27 plus 2) 581, 722, South Korea (26 plus 2) 553, 700. Saudi Arabia (7), 74, 105. Kuwait (3),0, 0. Laos 5), 12, 19, Lebanon (11 plus 1) 0, 0. Macao (7), 49, 74. Malaysia (13), 101, 141. Maldives (1), 12, 15. Mongolia (9), 59, 77.

Beijing Myanmar (Burma) 6, 38, 57, Nepal (10), 78, 109. Oman (2), 22, 30. Pakistan (20), 168, 220. Palestine (0), 0, 0. Philippines (15 plus 1), 82, 131. North Korea (23), 446, 559. Qatar (2), 33, 49. ‘Singapore (12), 116, 154. Sri Lanka (8), 18, 27. Syria (7), 26, 40. Thailand (18 plus 1) 181, 240. Chinese Taipei (20 plus 2) 300, 386. U.A.E (6), 48, 71. Vietnam (11), 68, 97. Yemen (1), 0, 0.

Indian entries had not been computerized because identity code numbers had yet to be reached, media committee deputy chairperson, Ms Zhu, said at a press conference yesterday but added later that the feud between rival groups of Indian officials was a “very big problem” even though the athlete’s names were the same.

Palestine’s entries had not been received “probably because the normal mail route has been somehow blocked due to the gulf crisis,” according to Bagoc press department director Wu Zhongyuan.

Ms. Zhu said the entries of Kuwait, Lebanon and Yemen were yet to be computerized as they had been received by telex and required checks of ID code and “some minor points.”

While the above list adds up to 5789 athletes and officials in all, Ms Zhu said that $912 names had been fed into the computer but did not explain the discrepancy.

Mr, Wu said a final picture may not emerge until Sept 21 or 22. That is the day of opening.

Article extracted from this publication >> September 14, 1990