NEW DELHI: In a major step that will strengthen the coaching backbone of India, the government on Wednesday appointed about 398 coaches across 21 sports disciplines to guide India's preparation for the 2024 Paris and 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Many among them are ex-international athletes and Arjuna awardees who have competed or won medals in elite competitions such as the World Championships and Olympics during their playing career. Of the total number of coaches, as many as 101 support staff personnel will be joining on deputation from PSUs and other government departments.
The recruitment comes in the wake of the effort of the Union sports ministry to provide 360 degree support to athletes as they prepare for important national and international competitions, including the Summer Games in 2024 and 2028.
"I am happy that a number of former athletes who have competed at the highest international level of competition and won medals have applied for these posts and have been selected," said sports minister Anurag Thakur, adding, "Their inclusion in the system will mean that besides training athletes in the sport itself, they will be able to train them for mental toughness which is the key to success when competing at the world stage."
Anurag Thakur (ANI Photo)
The new batch of coaches and assistant coaches has a host of eminent names, including Padma Shri awardee and Arjuna awardee, Bajrang Lal Thakar, who is a gold medallist at the Asian Games and joins as a Rowing coach.
Shilpi Sheoran, who has won the gold in the Commonwealth Games in 2010, joins as an assistant coach in wrestling, Olympian Jincy Phillip joins as an athletics coach, Pranamika Borah, multiple medallist in leading international championships, comes onboard as a boxing coach.
Speaking about what he looks forward to in his new assignment, Thakar said, "I am grateful to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) for offering me a chance to give back to sports as a coach especially at a time when water sports in India has a great chance of making an impact at the international competitions. I am training the team for the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games and I am confident that by fielding athletes in a maximum number of disciplines we will be able to add to the country's medal tally in the upcoming Asiad."
There are four Arjuna awardees, one Dhyanchand awardee and one Dhronacharya awardee among those who have been selected for the positions. Besides ex-international athletes who have completed their diploma in sports coaching from NSNIS Patiala or a recognised Indian or foreign University have also been inducted. Several SAI coaches who were previously on contract have been recruited back in the service, as per their eligibility.
