First batch of Indian athletes leave for Asian Games

The first batch of the Indian contingent for the upcoming Asian Games left today with seven track athletes heading for Incheon in advance to acclimatise with the conditions there.
Seven athletes -- Sudha Singh (3000m steeplechase), Preeja Sreedharan (5000m and 10,000m), O P Jaisha (1500m and 5000m), Lalita Babbar (3000m steeplechase), Suresh Kumar and Rahul Kumar Pal (both in 10,000m) and Sushma Devi (800m) -- are leaving for Incheon for the final phase of preparation for the Games, starting on September 19.
The athletics events begin on September 27.
The contingent under Belarusian coach Nikolai Snesareva includes six long distance runners and one middle distance runner in Sushma. The team will also be accompanied by Anzhelika Snesareva as masseur.

"I am confident that all the athletes will clock their best performances at the Asian Games. During my previous tenure, I had spent almost five years in preparation for 2010 Asian Games. This time, I did not have that luxury but we have made the best utilisation of the camp. We received help from several quarters, including people from Ooty where the athletes trained," Nikolai said.
He sought to reason out why some of his long distance runners were not Asian leaders this season, saying that they had to compete in conditions which were not best conducive for good results.

"I Lucknow (during the National Inter-State Championships in June), competitions were held under 45 degrees heat and 80 per cent humidity. I think the athletes did well under those conditions," he said, while refusing to blame the Athletics Federation of India for that.
"My wards will do much better in the better climatic conditions in Incheon. Their camp at high altitude and cooler Ooty will also help," he added.