The Sports Ministry has introduced a ‘Special Capacity Building Course’ aimed at helping elite athletes to become coaches, referees, and technical officials.
The decision was taken keeping in mind the lack of coaches in the country at the elite level.
Talking about the ‘Special Capacity Building Course’, sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya said, “I see a lack of elite Indian coaches. This course will enable the former Indian sportspersons who are doing clerical jobs and other office jobs at the PSUs and ministries. We can bring all these sports persons as not only coaches but also as referees and technical officials. All of these guys will be trained by experts from the NIS, Patiala.”
Former All England champion and renowned badminton coach Pullela Gopichand, in a recent interview to Time bharat had highlighted the lack of respect at the workplace for former athletes who have sports quota jobs and said helping them upskill was the need of the hour. “Education and sport have to go together, and skilling and exit opportunities for athletes are very important to equip them for life ahead…we are not fitting into corporate roles and office jobs without skilling. I know so many bright top level players but it’s not easy…,” Gopichand had said.
