India will win a medal in 2008 Olympics: Coach

CHENNAI: Australian Brett Mace, the coach of Indian Triathlon Federation (ITF) has expressed confidence of India winning a medal in the 2008 Olympics.
Mace said he was certain that India will claim a medal in the 2008 Games after undegoing a systematic training programme though India's chances of grabbing a medal in 2004 Athens Games did not look bright.
He was talking to pressmen at a function organised by ITF to felicitate Service's Mahesh Shinde and Karnataka's Syed Jabir for winning bronze medal in the Subic Bay International championship held on June two at Philippines and the entire Indian team.
"I am impressed with their performance in Subic Bay championship. I can say for sure that India will be in the medal bracket in 2008 Olympics", he said.
He said the Indian athletes were up against one of the strongest fields in Asia cup series and regular participation in such events would help them to accrue vital world ranking points.
The ITF president N Ramachandran, who felicitated the team members, explained the long term plans of the Federation, especially the programme for 2004 and 2008 olympics.
He said, "Indian team will compete on merit in the Olympics and we have a chance to qualify for the Athens Games. He said as per the new system of selection criteria, an athlete who secures 125 ITU points would automaticaly qualify for olympic competitions."
He said the hurdle towards achieving this goal all along has been sponsorship support.
"Now that the Amara Raja Batteries have signed a four year contract of sponsorship with the ITF, we could ensure participation of Indian teams in International meets to garner valuable points", he said.
Talking on the first ever National coaching clinic (level one), Ramachandran said that this followed the vision of the ITF to broad base Triathlon in India and the federation has taken a conscious decision to conduct such clinics to educate and develop aspiring coaches throughout the country.
Following the decision of MRF pace foundation, an Internationally acclaimed academy functioning here since 1987 with former Australian Great Dennis Lillee as its coach, the ITF has roped in reputed coaches from Australia for its academy.
Apart from Mace, Rob Pickard, who was instrumental in Australia attaining the status of dominant force in the world triathlon as its National coach and Frank Conceicao (both from Australia) and Pradip Kumar, a reputed swimming specialist who trained Indian swimmers for Olympics, have been roped in by the ITF to coach the triathletes and also to conduct regular clinics in India.