Indian Skaters

jatin · Administrator Joined: 20 Jan 2007 Posts: 136

NEW DELHI, July 31: Barring infrastructure, there is nothing that can stop Indian speed skaters from achieving the Olympic honor.

This is not a boast by the Ice Skating Association of India and skaters but a thought by Marek Stanuch -- the Austrian coach now training the Indians.

Stanuch, a national and international level speed skater of his times and currently the coordinator for speed skating in Central Europe, has coached the Austrian Olympic speed track team for eight years.

And his pedigree as a coach is established by the fact that his wards have won more than 100 Olympic and World championship medals.

"The enthusiasm and motivation despite the lack of infrastructure available to the Indians here is remarkable. The sport is gaining in popularity," said Stanuch.

"Equipment is not so much of a problem as the rink itself," he added. The Austrian coach is focussing on imparting the basics of speed skating - training in endurance and power.

Imitation, a major part of the procedure due to the lack of infrastructure, is part of the training package. So, the skaters are concentrating on dry skating exercises and practising on roller skates and slide boards.

In an effort to help raise the standard of skating, Stanuch is trying to rope in sponsors from European nations.

This would include equipment for training and participation. He is also looking at getting invitations from Europe for Indian skaters.

Five to six coaches will train under him in Leh, Shimla and Berlin. Said Stanuch: "I wish to hear the national anthem of India very soon in international skating arena. That's my aim."

Rahul Rane, the Indian coach who underwent training in Berlin, understands the need to keep up to date with international practice if Indian is get on the ice skating map. "The future is this," he says.

As for the young, talented skaters Subodh Patil, Sameer Gole and Dhanashree Surana, the two-week training camp in Berlin made them understand the need for exposure and specialised training.

While sceptical about the future, in terms of longevity of the sport as a career, each one of them has eyes set on the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

Said Subodh, the current National roller skating champion and also the recipient of the Chhatrapati Award: "The difference between the Europeans and us is tremendous."

"When we reached there, we realised we needed to improve by at least 20 seconds to achieve the qualifying time. After two weeks of training we were successful in bridging the time-lag to just seven seconds."

A world class ice skating rink could translate the Olympic dreams of these speed devils into reality.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1186656.cms