New Delhi: Olympian Kunjarani Devi today joined the chorus against Deodutt Sharma and lambasted Indian Weightlifting Federation for selecting the "greenhorn" coach to accompany weightlifter Monika Devi in Beijing Olympics next month.

Kunjarani, who has won more than 50 international medals in weightlifting including at World and Commonwealth Championships, was scathing in her criticism of IWF for selecting an inexperienced coach to guide a lifter at the biggest stage in the world.

"What are Sharma's credentials to be chosen coach for the Olympics? He is a very junior coach. I remember when I was training at the NIS, Patiala, just before the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games, Sharma was doing his diploma course there, and now he is being made coach with little experience at the highest level," Kunjarani told reporters.

"It (Olympics) is the biggest stage. Weightlifting has been India's medal prospect in the Olympics and IWF wants to select such an inexperienced coach to accompany Monika. I don't know the rationale behind this," said the 40-year-old lifter who won her last medal, a gold, in the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

Kunjarani's scathing criticism came two days after former international lifters and Olympians came down hard on IWF for selecting Sharma by ignoring other more experienced coaches.

Kunjarani, now a CRPF commandant, said Sharma's selection would add not brighten Monika's chances in Beijing. "From my experience I know a coach has an important role to play in a lifter's performance. He has to know the lifter in and out, the capability as well as the mental aspect of his charge. Tell me, how long has he been associated with any senior woman lifter."
Source : PTI