Hohn “ignores us” in overseas tours: Javelin throwers

New Delhi, June 16

Two of the country’s top javelin throwers, including the Olympics-bound Shivpal Singh, today alleged that German coach Uwe Hohn also “trains foreign athletes” when the Indian team travels abroad for exposure tours.

Shivpal, who qualified for the upcoming Olympics early last year and trains under Hohn, and Tokyo Games hopeful Annu Rani said the German coach “is more interested in training abroad” due to “certain reasons”.

“He (Hohn) also trains some other foreign athletes when we are overseas, ignoring us,” the duo said in a joint statement. Asked when exactly had they seen Hohn train foreign athletes, Shivpal and Annu said, “It was in 2019 when we were training in Poland.” A coach on the payroll of the government cannot train athletes other than Indians during official tours abroad.

“He is more interested in training abroad which we do not agree due to the prevailing situation as we want to save ourselves and avoid risk when travelling,” the two throwers said from their training base at NIS Patiala. — PTI