10 years on, dist Sports Dept sans permanent judo coach

Sumeer Singh

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, April 20

The district Sports Department has been without a permanent judo coach for the past 10 years.

In the absence of a sports department’s appointed judo coach, judokas in the district are getting trained under senior judo players and Director, Physical Education. But due to their professional obligations, they are not able to devote much time to train the budding players.

Budding players continue to practise for one session under senior players. Three year ago, a judo coach was appointed on a contractual basis, but he was transferred to a Sports Authority of India centre after two months.

Gulshan Kumar, Director, Physical Education, Government High School, Nehian Wala village, train budding judo players for two hours in the evening (5pm to 7pm), but he is not able to train them in the morning session as he remain engaged teaching students at the school.

Kumar, who is providing free training to the players at the judo centre, said, “There is a plethora of talent in the district, but in the absence of a permanent coach, the potential of budding players remain untapped as they get less time for practise. And training in the morning is very crucial, especially for budding judokas. It has been more than a decade since a permanent coach was appointed by the Sports Department.”

Kumar said apart from participating on international platforms, judo players from Bathinda have bagged more than 30 medals at state and national-level events in 2017. 

“There are more than 110 players who are being trained at the judo centre, but absence of a coach will affect their prospect to make a mark at the international level,” he added.

When contacted, Balwinder Singh, District Sports Officer, said, “We are doing good at state, national and international level. But the medal tally can improve if a permanent coach is appointed. I would take up the matter with the higher authorities in this regard.”