Crisis-hit coach is prepared to wait COVID out to train his students again

Champion athlete’s academy was helping poor youth get defence jobs before it shut due to pandemic curbs

His dream to win an Olympic gold medal for India shattered by a quirk of fate, athlete G. Hari Prasad of Madanapalle has later made it his life mission to train talented youngsters into champion athletes and help them get into the Indian armed forces. However, his plans have hit a roadblock, as COVID-19 pandemic has brought all his activities to a halt, with no hope of revival in near future as the presumed third wave is looming large. But his spirit remains undeterred, and he is prepared to fight till the end. Mr. Prasad stood first in both 5,000 and 10,000 metres (under-20) for four consecutive years (2006-10) in the All India Inter-University Athletics meet. He also emerged victorious in the Andhra Pradesh State Athletics Association meets five times during the same period. Having already marked the fourth place once in the national events, Mr. Prasad was confident of bagging an Olympic medal one day.