Points finger at Indian athletics coach Nikolai Snesarev
Kolkata: Monika Athare, who emerged as the winner among the Indian women competitors in the recently concluded Airtel Delhi Half Marathon last month in New Delhi, cried foul against the Federation on Friday. The reigning national champion in long distance running, who is also the top draw among the Indian women participants in Tata Steel Kolkata 25K came down heavily at the national athletics coach Nikolai Snesarev.
The athlete from Maharashtra alleged that the Russian coach threw her out from the Indian camp after she got injured. Monika also alleged that she has been made the scapegoat by the Federation. According to Monika, “I was thrown out of the camp in 2013 by Dr Nikolai after I injured myself. I was not given an opportunity for rehab which is not the case for others like Lalita Babbar, Sudha Singh. I am a victim of the dirty politics by the Federation,” said Monika in Kolkata at the pre-event press conference of TSK 25K.
Monika, who works in LIC has recently came first in the ADHM and Hyderabad 10K and got the third position in 5000 m in the Senior Open Nationals. “Vijender Singh is my personal coach. I have improved a lot under him. Rehabilitation was a concern earlier, but now it is no longer an issue. I will try my best to win here and break Sudha Singh’s record set by her last year,” said a confident Monika.
Monika timed one hour, 15 minutes and 34 seconds to be declared the champion of Airtel Delhi Half Marathon last month.