Coaches unhappy with Punjab Sports Department’s decision

Deepankar Sharda

Tribune News Service

Mohali, September 9

Punjab Sports Department’s decision to conduct refresher courses in various disciplines has not gone down well with many state coaches amid Covid-19 scare in the state.

The department will conduct refresher courses from September 15 to October 9 at the Sector 63 Sports Complex.

As per the schedule, coaches of judo, swimming, gymnastics and hockey will attend this course from September 15 to 19. Kabaddi, volleyball, athletics and table tennis coaches will attend the course from September 21 to 25. In the third phase, coaches of volleyball, football, handball and shooting will be trained from September 28 to October 2. In the last phase, coaches of wrestling, weightlifting and badminton will go through this detailed programme from October 5 to 9. The course is organised for regular, outsourced and Punjab State Institute (PIS) coaches.

Earlier, a workshop was organised at the Sector 78 Sports Complex wherein coaches from various districts of the state participated. “It’s a good initiative, but what is the need for conducting such courses amid the pandemic,” said a coach from Jalandhar. Meanwhile, sources in the Sports Department said five-day course for each game would be organised following social distancing norms.

Seven-day camp begins

The department is conducting a refresher course for state boxing coaches under the guidance of Cuba’s Blas Iglesias Fernandez, the first foreign coach to be given Dronacharya Award. The seven-day camp started at the PIS centre in Mohali today. Coaches from Mohali, Patiala, Roopnagar, Sangrur, Barnala and Bathinda are participating in the event.