Asian Games | The fear factor has disappeared in today’s Indian athletes, says Rachita Mistry
Former Asian Games silver medalist, Rachita Mistry reckons that the current crop of Indian athletes like Hima Das and Dutee Chand are fearless when it comes to racing in international competitions. Mistry also suggested that Chand will only get better with time as she works on her technique.
Hima Das created history last month as she won gold at the world championships, something which had never been done by any Indian athlete before. Although she was disqualified in the semi-finals of the 200m event at the ongoing Asian Games in Jakarta, Das still managed to win silver in the women’s 400m category and also finished second as part of 4x400 mixed relay team.
Along with Das, another standout performer in athletics was Dutee Chand who bagged silver in the women’s 100m and 200m dash at the ongoing Asian showpiece. Chand was at her very best as she clocked a timing of 23.20s in the 200m to become the join the likes of PT Usha to win multiple medals in track events at the Asian Games.
Ruchita Mistry, who was the last Indian to win a 100 metres medal at the Asian Games as she won bronze in the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok, was all praise for the likes of Das and Chand as she added that their success on the track stems from their fearless attitude, something that Mistry’s generation of Indian athletes did not possess.
"The performance of Indian athletes also depends on their psychological and physical well-being at that particular point. There are factors beyond the runner’s control; someone had a bad experience in the flight, another can’t adapt to the weather, these are conditions an athlete must simply toughen up to overcome.
"When I look at this generation, I notice one big change among them. There is no fear. The fear factor that our generation possessed has disappeared. In those days, we used to go abroad and freeze. We didn’t win as many medals in international meets, adding to the feeling," Mistry wrote in a column for Scroll.in.
Mistry also added that Chand, who is still aged 22, had a lot to offer in the near future. The Indian athlete participated in just her first Asian Games competition and Mistry suggested that the youngster needed to take part in more international competitions to build her confidence.
"I am aware that Dutee hasn’t performed as well in international competition as she has domestically, but that is also because an athlete matures with time and so does your body. I peaked at 25, and then retired at 30. We must remember that this is Dutee’s first Asian Games and she will get better.
"I see Neeraj Chopra participate in competitions across Europe and improving. Not just collecting gold, but improving his mark. Hima Das just keeps getting better and faster. Dutee must also
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