Usain Bolt, the king of track & field, will have an Indian training partner soon. Amiya Mallick, the Indian, who will travel to Kingston on January 12 to join Bolt, stands to benefit more from this relationship.
Mallick is looking forward to the experience to be gained from training with Bolt under the watchful eyes of sprint coach Glen Mills. Yohan Blake and Warren Weir are other high-profiled athletes at Racers Track Club.
“On 12th of this month I am going to Jamaica to train under Usain Bolt's coach for four months," the 21-year-old sprinter was quoted in the ineternational media saying.
“I am aiming for 2014 Commonwealth and Asian Games,” said Mallick, who won the men's 200m in 21.22 at last September’s National Open Athletics Championships in Ranchi.
The 2014 Commonwealth Games will be held in Glasgow, Scotland from July 21 to August 4, while the Asiad are scheduled in Incheon, South Korea from September 28 to October 5.
Mallick, who has a personal best of 10.69 in the 100m, said at the end of his four months stay in Jamaica, the aim is to be better at 200m.
" When I go there I will work with the coaches to improve on the timing. I know that if I improve my time by even a fraction of a second I will qualify for the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. I am also looking to work on my fitness. I will talk to the coaches about how to improve my fitness and stamina.”
He believes if he can break the Indian national record of 20.73 seconds, a medal is likely at the Asian Games.