Usha rues lack of encouragement to sportspersons

Hyderabad: Highlighting that there was no dearth of talent in the country, legendary athlete P T Usha today said that proper encouragement and facilities should be provided to the country's sportspersons to excel at the world stage.

"There is no dearth of talent in India, but there is no encouragement and facilities to train. After winning a medal, many athletes give up and go into oblivion, the reason being lack of encouragement," she said after inaugurating the Scottsdale Athletic Academy here.

"I am willing to set up athletic academies in other states too, if their governments come forward and offer me the necessary support," a release from the organisers quoted her as saying.

Observing that athletics is the foundation for doing well in any sports, she said a track and field athlete can shift to any other sport like football, tennis or hockey subsequently.

She said athletics training will keep the youngsters in good stead and aid them in excelling in the adopted sport.

"I know of very few Sports Academies in the country with such infrastructure and is definitely a good beginning for laying a foundation to a rich grooming ground," she said.