Foreign coaches now have to train Indian counterparts

The foreign coaches hired for the Indian team will now have to train two Indian coaches to bring them at par with international standards.

At present, 18 foreign coaches and six foreign support staff have been engaged with the Sports Authority of India (SAI). The tutoring of Indian coaches has been included in the contracts of the foreign coaches.

“SAI has signed agreements with foreign coaches. Foreign coaches, engaged with SAI, are also to train two (2) Indian coaches to upgrade their knowledge / technical skill etc,” sports minister Rajyavardhan Rathore informed in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

According to SAI officials, the focus of the top officials is to make sure Indian coaches too learn from their foreign counterparts. “SAI would like these foreign coaches to be a part of the visiting faculties in national sports university. The authorities have come to realise that Indian coaches have not kept pace with the rest of the world, especially on the scientific aspect. The government has spent generously on foreign coaches, but it is equally important to develop world-class coaches in India if one wishes to see improved results in big events like the Olympics,” a source in SAI said.

Meanwhile, the ministry is also satisfied with preparations of Indian athletes for 2020 Tokyo games and has assured assistance to selected athletes under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS)

“Preparation of Indian athletes and teams for their participation in International sports events including forthcoming Tokyo Olympics 2020 is a continuous process. Government is providing full assistance to the identified athletes for intensive coaching through national coaching camps organized by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) besides providing foreign exposures/ competitions under the Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations (NSFs).

“No complaint regarding food and accommodation during participation in sports events abroad has been received in recent past from athletes.”