SEOUL, Sept. 29, Reuter: India’s Chief Athletics Coach said today he was quitting out of frustration with his country’s sports infrastructure and heading for a well paid job in Taiwan.

Even as his powerful women’s team showed their paces on the track at the Asian games today, Coach Ken Bosen, told Reuters that too many frustrations and the offer of a good salary in Taiwan had led him to make the decision.

I was just offered the post of coaching Taiwanese athletes and I am accepting it. I will be leaving India for good as soon as my contract ends after the Asian garn6,” said Bosen, 55.

in, a major figure in Indian athletics for over two decades, said the Taiwan salary would help him build for the first time a Seiuyf Xuoure.

Bosen Rose from national javelin champion in 1955 to be Chief National Coach in 1966, He trained several Asian record holders and introduced sport to young children in his Don Bosco Club.

Known as a strict disciplinarian, Bosen last week pulled out a woman from his favored 400 meter relay team because she did not report for one trial.

“Discipline is almost as important as talent, Vandana Shanbagh ‘would have been out for indiscipline even if she had been sure of an individual gold”, Bosen said,

He said the frustrations he had faced included sorting out disputes amongst the many agencies which organize sports in India.

“This lack of organization and the conflicting views of the agencies prevents us from bringing out the best in the athletes,” said Bosen, “The problem in India is not that we are following the ‘wrong system, but that we have no system”.

India, a country with the world’s second largest population of 750 million, has never won @ ‘medal in athletics in the Olympics and has yet to win a gold at Seoul after 10 days of competition.

Bosen said his women track athletes were some of the finest in Asia, but had developed their talents with the support of only one South Indian state Kerala.

Kerala produced Piluvallakandi Usha, who shattered the Asian ‘games record in the women’s 200 meters in her first appearance in Seoul this morning.

Usha, 22, is going for six gold’s in the 100, 200, 400 and 400 meters hurdles and the two relays,

Teammate Shiny Abraham, also from Kerala, ran an electrifying 800 meter heat to make the final tomorrow.

“Yes, it is a powerful women’s team, but take away Usha and what have you got perhaps two other gold’s from Shiny Abraham,” Bosen said.

Abraham looks set to finish second behind Usha in the 400 meters, while a third Kerala girl, M.D, Valsamma, is expected to follow Usha home with a silver in the 400 meters,

The three girls together are in an almost invincible 400 meter relay team.

Bosen said Kerala provided facilities unmatched by any sports or government agency in India.

“But in the end, it is basically the raw talent of gift like Usha which counts, There is no getting away from that,” said Bosen.

But even Usha must concentrate on one event if she is to make her ‘mark on the world stage, he said.

Usha’s best performance at the world level was fourth in the 400 meter hurdles at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics about time Usha forgot about medals and started concentrating on performance,” said Bosen.

Article extracted from this publication >> October 3, 1986