Chandigarh Sports Dept transfers 26 coaches

Chandigarh, July 16

Ahead of the peak competition season, the UT Sports Department transferred as many as 26 coaches in a single go, a first in recent times, leaving many of them in the lurch.

Sources in the department claimed that the transfers were made after the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) recently declared four posts ‘sensitive’ in the UT Education Department. While the CVC order was restricted to the Education Department, the Sports Department also followed suit to avoid any controversy, claimed a highly placed source.

The coaches claimed that the department only transferred ‘handpicked’ coaches, while those having good contacts were still enjoying coaching at the same centres. “The transfers will hugely affect the trainees. A player takes four to five years to nurture under a coach. If the department has followed the CVC order, it should be implemented throughout. There are still many coaches, who are enjoying officials’ support and running centres. This could have been avoided till off season,” said a coach, seeking anonymity.

The department has transferred five of badminton, three of table tennis, four of lawn tennis, two of gymnastics, two of hockey, three of basketball, two of handball, two of cricket, two of squash and one of weightlifting.