Pushing Young Athletes Too Hard in Early Stages Can Be Disastrous, Says Athletics Coach at Reliance Foundation National Endurance Project

Add as a preferred source on Google

Nurturing young athletes with the potential to excel at the international level is a unique challenge, according to Ajith Markose, an athletics coach at the Reliance Foundation National Endurance Project.
"Pushing athletes too hard in the early stages can be disastrous, as it takes time for them to mature," Markose explained.

Markose, who oversees middle- and long-distance runners at the project, mentors a promising group of athletes, including 19-year-old middle-distance runner Laxmipriya Kisan and 20-year-old long-distance runner Antima Pal.

The project provides athletes with extensive international exposure, nutritious meals, and world-class facilities. "A well-balanced diet, which costs more than Rs. 1,000 per day, along with access to physiotherapists, masseurs, dietitians, and nutritionists, ensures the best support for our athletes," the coach stated.

Laxmipriya represented Odisha in the recently concluded National Junior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar, where she won gold in the U20 women's 800m, clocking 2:10.17.

Realistic targets have been set for both Laxmipriya and Antima for the 2025 season to ensure steady progression. "Training young athletes is entirely different from working with seniors. At the junior level, it's about exposure and confidence-building programs. Hence, we're not expecting extraordinary performances in the immediate future," Markose emphasized.

Antima, who clinched a bronze medal at the Asian U20 Championships in 2023, holds a personal best of 16:47.49 in the 5000m. The coach aims for her to improve to 16 minutes and 10 seconds in the 2025 season. For Laxmipriya, the target is to achieve 2:06 in the 800m.

"There are many factors that contribute to success stories, including injury-free training over extended periods. International exposure is essential for confidence building. As athletes progress, goals are adjusted accordingly," Markose added.

The middle- and long-distance training group is based in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu (elevation: 1700 meters) from November to February before moving to Bengaluru. "Athletes train on hard surfaces for long runs in Coonoor, as soft surfaces are unavailable there," he said.

Markose believes that long-distance athletes usually peak at ages 26-27, while middle-distance athletes reach their potential between ages 24-25, although there are exceptions.

Antima, who has been part of the project for the past three years, won a bronze medal at the 2023 Asian Junior Championships in Korea. However, she skipped international meets in 2024 due to a minor injury.

Similarly, Laxmipriya missed the 2024 Asian and World U20 Athletics Championships. Both athletes will face a litmus test in the upcoming 2025 season. The coach expressed satisfaction with their progress. "When Laxmi joined the project, her 800m timing was a modest 2:32. Now, she consistently clocks sub-2:10," he noted.