Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, April 25: Irrespective of the fiasco Sunday during the Indian Grand Prix athletics meet at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, sprinter Amiya Mallick is still hopeful of sealing a Rio Olympics berth.
Oriya sprinters Amiya and Srabani Nanda had both qualified for Rio winning their respective 100 metres events and bettering the time set for the Olympic qualifications. However, with the official electronic timeboard not working due to a power cut, the times recorded were on handheld timers. The IAAF doesn’t recognise any ‘time’ other than those appearing on the official scoreboard.
Amiya won gold in the men’s 100 metres sprint with 10.09 seconds timing breaching the Olympics qualification time of 10.16 seconds. However, according to sources Amiya’s achievement will not be recognised by the IAAF as his time was recorded on a handheld device.
However, Amiya is still hopeful about going to Rio. “The media has reported that our (his and Srabani’s) time will not be considered. However, we have not heard anything official about it from either the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) or the IAAF (International body). So we are waiting for the official verdict,” Amiya informed Monday. “It will really be heartbreaking if both Srabani and myself fail to go to Rio in spite of beating the qualification standards easily,” he added.
However both athletes have two more chances to qualify for their Rio berth. They have to perform well in the upcoming Federation Cup in New Delhi, April 28-30 or at the second Indian Grand Prix at Patiala, starting May 3.
However, Amiya in spite of sounding confident is a bit apprehensive also. “It’s not easy to maintain the standard and continuity in all meets,” he informed. “One has to take many things into consideration like the weather conditions, the physical barometer, etc… on that particular day. Every day one just cannot be at his peak,” he added.
But the lanky sprinter also informed, that other than the two meets at the Capital and Patiala, he will also be participating in some tournaments abroad. “I am sure, I will be able to book a Rio berth,” he
asserted.
Orissa Athletics Association (OAA) secretary Asirbad Behera stated Monday that the incident was ‘unfortunate’. “I hope that both Amiya and Srabani will perform well in their upcoming tournaments and get Olympic berths,” he said.
