Punjab appoints 168 coaches

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 3

In a huge step forward for Punjab sports, the Sports Department today appointed 168 junior coaches, the largest recruitment in the last 30 years. 

The recruitment — delayed by five years — has come as a huge relief for the ad hoc coaches who had been running the state’s sports for the last eight years. 

“It’s a great day for us. We have been rewarded for our patience and hard-work in the last eight years,” said newly-appointed hockey coach Yudwinder Singh, who was hired as an ad hoc coach in 2008.

In 2011-12, the department had planned to hire over 225 permanent coaches but it hit a roadblock when 37 of the ad hoc coaches filed a petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The HC lifted the stay on the recruitment last year, after which the Sports Department sent a list of 171 coaches to the Subordinate Service Selection Board. The Punjab SSSB, however, has approved the appointment of 168 so far. 

The proposed number (171) of game-wise posts are: athletics (22), archery (1), badminton (6), basketball (13), boxing (7), cricket (2), cycling (4), gymnastics (9), fencing (1), football (15), hockey (21), handball (9), judo (5), kabaddi (3), kho kho (4), powerlifting (1), rowing (1), softball (1), swimming (7), tennis (2), table Tennis (3), volleyball (13), weightlifting (10), wrestling (11).  

The Sports Department announced that it is planning to fill the vacant posts (over 50) as soon as possible. 

Till now, the ad hoc coaches — over 150 out of a total of about 250, which also included Punjab Police coaches on deputation — had been receiving modest salaries.

“For the last eight years we have been worried about our future. Now that we have job security, we will be able to work even harder,” said Sanjeev Sharma, one of the 22 athletics coaches appointed.

Police coaches

Apart from the new recruitments, the department is planning to bring 61 coaches on deputation from Punjab Police. 

Meanwhile, the state government announced that it will be advertising for 125 posts in Punjab Police for established sportspersons very soon.

Game-wise coaches

Athletics (22), Archery (1), Badminton (6), Basketball (13), Boxing (7), Cricket (2), Cycling (4), Gymnastics (9), Fencing (1), Football (15), Hockey (21), Handball (9), Judo (5), Kabaddi (3), Kho Kho (4), Powerlifting (1), Rowing (1), Softball (1), Swimming (7), Tennis (2), Table Tennis (3), Volleyball (13), Weightlifting (10), Wrestling  (11)