The legendary runner said it was regrettable that Indian athletes failed to repeat abroad their performances at home.

``What to talk of improving? There seems to be some major lapse as athletes record much less timings and distances in meets abroad compared with the recordings on Indian soil,'' he told PTI.

He said the ``major lapses'' could be either wrong timing instruments or measuring tapes. Throwers Shakti Singh and Neelam J Singh and the women's longer relay team failed to come near their performances, he said.

Singh said shot putter Shakti Singh covered 19.85 m in India prior to leaving for Seville, but at the world meet he slid to 18.58 mts, a good 1.27 m less. Woman discus thrower Neelam J Singh threw 3.23 m less than her best of 60.28 m in India and the story wasthe same with the women's relay team.

Milkha Singh, who missed an Olympic bronze by a whisker when he came fourth in the 400 m at the 1960 Rome Games, had been sceptic when quartermiler Paramjeet singh broke his National mark at Calcutta last year. He had then said he would accept only marks set abroad.

Milkha Singh said his own performances had been consistent. ``I clocked 46.6 seconds in India in 400 m and in the Cardiff Commonwealth Games I had clocked 46.1 secs to win gold for India,'' he said.

Before going for the Rome Olympics he had clocked 46.1 secs in the National Games in Delhi and 45.6 secs at Rome to break the Games mark.

``It is strange that Paramjit Singh, who is said to have broken my record at Calcutta has failed to repeat his showing.

``Why is he afraid of taking part in international meets, including Commonwealth Games and World Cup athletics,'' he asked.