Indian athletics chief coach Bahadur Singh, who recently ended his stint with Sports Authority of India (SAI), on Saturday said the achievements of the Indian athletics fraternity over the past 25 years were due to the collective efforts.
The 74-year-old Asian Games gold medallist shot putter called for paying more attention to sports in schools.
"If India has risen to be a leading nation in Asian athletics, it is because of one man but because of team-work by athletes, coaches, the Athletics Federation of India, the Sports Authority of India and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports," Bahadur said during a farewell function orgsed through a video conference.
"But if our schools let our children play sport and give them the facilities, India can be a world power," he added.
The veteran athlete Bahadur also pointed out that India sorely missed an indoor training facility.
"We spend a lot of money in sending our athletes overseas when the climate at home does not permit training. India badly needs an indoor facility," he said.
Bahadur Singh between 1973-85 won three Gold, two Silver, three Bronze at Asian Games and Asian Championships and reached finals at the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
( With inputs from ANI )