KOCHI: You would have breathlessly watched an athlete leaping over a bar placed at a height of four metres or more. But, ever thought of the technical side of this adrenaline-pumping sport? “At the ongoing school meet, vaulters who used fibre glass pole won the first three places while those who used the traditional bamboo poles were left far behind. There was an average distance of 40 cm between the jumpers who used fibre pole and bamboo pole,” said Solomon Antony, the referee of the event.Generally, bamboo poles are not allowed in major athletic meets. The exemption is given only at school meets as there is no alternative. Only financially-sound managements provide fibre poles for their students while athletes of other schools, including government schools, have to depend on bamboo poles. Scaling heights with fibre pole needs extensive training which many of the schools are not able to provide. Either the school or the athlete has to meet the cost of the pole which goes up to as much as Rs 20,000, if it is an imported one. The price of an ordinary fibre pole, depending on the quality of the pole, usually ranges between Rs 3,000 and Rs 5,000.“Athletes who use fibre poles for the first time need to learn to control its spring action. A lot of practice is needed to get used to it,” said Solomon, a staff of the Department of Income Tax, who has officiated many meets.
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