Country's fastest sprinter Amiya Mallick rues lack of support, urges for Nigerian coach

New Delhi, Dec 11: Amiya Mallick is the fastest male sprinter in India at the moment. He clocked the best timing with 10.26 seconds in the 100 meters in this year's senior national championship.

In the Asian Track & Field meet this year in Odisha also he created the best timing in 200 meters with 21.03 seconds. Still, the sprinter from Odisha regrets not getting adequate help from the state government to build up his own support staff.

Amiya, who went to Racers Club in Jamaica a couple of years back to train under legendary Glenn Mills - the coach of sprint king Usain Bolt, said over phone from Bhubaneswar, “I train alone with a couple of my friends at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. I do not have a personal coach. I do not have any personal physiotherapist, any fitness trainer. I am dreaming of medals in international tournaments like Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. But will it be possible without a skilled and experienced support staff?”

The 25-year old sprinter had been given a job at Orissa Mining Corporation. But the athlete refused to take it. On this issue, he explained, “I appealed the state government to come forward with financial aid for my training. I asked them to provide the required salary for a skilled foreign coach that I need for my extensive training. But I have not yet received any response regarding my appeal."

Sachin Tendulkar was Amiya’s actual hero in his early days. The reason was Sachin’s indomitable spirit to overcome injuries and keep fit to deliver in the international cricket for such a long time.

But one-day Amiya came to know about Anil Kumar, who was the fastest male sprinter back then, and the tag of 'country’s fastest man’ inspired him. Amiya added, “Then I also decided to have the same tag one day.”

Now the sprinter’s aim is to clock 10.26 seconds in the 100 meters. He has again made an appeal to the state government to provide salary for the Nigerian coach as his personal trainer. He smiled and signed off saying,"Let us see what happens finally.”