At a coaching clinic in Chennai, the 63-year-old listens intently to a young coach explaining how he trained his athletes, including one returning from injury. Troy Hamilton Douglas talks to coaches from Tamil Nadu as if he has known them for years.
“If we can equal or get two or three medals more, I will be very happy. In fact, I will say we can win 32 medals. I am saying this after observing Indian athletics for more than a year and watching the Indian Series this season,” Douglas told The Hindu on Friday.
Asked about IIS athletes with medal potential, Douglas, whose contract with IIS runs until 2028, said: “We have too many [IIS] athletes — 23 in all. Douglas, a three-time Olympian for Bermuda who competed in the 200m and 400m, said he plans to retire from coaching after 2028. Because they are properly prepared and have had a fantastic training camp with the national team, i say that.
I will say of the lot, Rashdeep Kaur (women’s 400m and 4x400m relay) and Prachi Choudhary (women’s 400m and 4x400m relay) have a bright chance.
Douglas said he had been in close contact with Indian coach Jerry Lee Holness, who is in charge of the women’s 400m and 400m hurdles. He added that IIS jumps coach Yoandri Betanzos believed triple jumpers Praveen Chithravel and Selva Prabhu could “do some fantastic things at the Asian Games”.