Why are Indians way behind in long-distance running?

"Indian conditions are not conducive to marathons. Athletes need to spend summers at higher altitudes like hill stations where you need a lot of support structures and training groups within federations or the army. There should be regular competitions at these hill stations.

"Also they need a lot of international exposure. For example, Ram Singh did not run very well at the London Olympics as well as he did in Mumbai. It is because he did not get much international exposure," adds Jones, who won the the prestigious 1982 London Marathon.

However, Indian athlete Sudha Singh disagrees.

Sudha, who participated in London Olympics in the 3000 metres steeplechase, spent six months training in Eldoret, Kenya, before the Games.



"The altitude is not the only reason why the Kenyans are ahead. Their lifestyle is such that for everything they have to walk or run.