No fund for wages, Ghudda sports school’s future uncertain

Sameer Singh

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Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August 1

Coaches, sports teachers and other staff at Government Sports School, Ghudda, here have not been paid their salaries for the past over six months.

The sports school that nurtures talented players in 11 disciplines of different indoor and outdoor sports, has produced a sizable number of national and international players. The school had not been getting required funds, and as a result, diet plans of athletes had to be curtailed, coercing few players to even quit the school.

Sources in the school said with the required funds not being released, running the school had become difficult.

A coach, requesting anonymity, said: “We cannot expect a player to perform until he gets the required diet for the sport he plays. Similarly, without funds, we cannot buy the equipment or maintain existing infrastructure or take part in competitions (at other venues). Even our salaries were being paid through the grants released by the administration but now, nobody seems to be bothered.”

Established in 2011, sprawling in around 16 acres of land and located on the outskirts of Bathinda city, the sports school currently has more than 50 employees, including coaches, sports teachers, groundmen, hostel staff, caretakers and clerical staff.