Coach not impressed by 'gift'

Runners compete in the women's 3,000m steeplechase at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou Nov 21, 2010. [Photo/Xinhua]

India's Sudha Singh thought she had provided the best farewell gift to her coach by winning gold in the women's 3,000m steeplechase on Sunday, but her mentor was less than thrilled by his charge's performance.

"I'm very, very happy to win the gold medal. I didn't expect to win here," said Singh. "The Chinese girl was running very fast and I didn't know whether I had won until the result flashed on the scoreboard," said the 24-year-old after defeating China's Jin Yuan by 0.07 sec.

"Today's result is already my personal best. I improved myself here and I'm now the new national record holder."

But her coach, Nikolai Snesarev, whose contract expires on Nov 30 after working with the Indian track and field team for 5 1/2 years, was not impressed.

"I'm disappointed in her performance today, it was too slow. She was running much faster in training. One more such performance will kill me," said the Belarusian.

"You know what is my motto? As soon as you are satisfied with your athlete's performance, the progress will stop. That's why she could run faster and faster," he said.

However, he appeared more upbeat when asked if Singh, who works for a railway company when she isn't competing, should be regarded as a professional athlete.

"I don't think it depends on whether she has another job, but her results," he said.

"Her performance was the best. It showed her professionalism better than anything else."

Jin won the silver medal while 37-year-old Minori Hayakari of Japan bagged the bronze.

China Daily