84 wrestlers picked for top class training

WFI isnt resting on its laurels alone. Wrestling federation of India seem to be going the whole hog in profiting from the momentum of the Beijing Olympic Games. They have in association with the Steering Committe of the Government of India, Sports Ministry have identified 84 wrestlers who will be provided top class training. They have also identified 12 Indian and 2 foreign coaches who will provide training to these wrestlers. All these wrestlers will belong to the core group that will be trained to get more medals in the Commonwealth Games 2010, Delhi.

Army Sports Institute, Pune, will be the training venue for Greco Roman and NIS, Patiala for free style (Men and Women) have been identified as centres for imparting training to the Core Group of sportspersons.

500 coaches needed for SAI institutes

According to the outspoken Sports Minister Mani Shankar Aiyer, nearly 500 vacancies for the post of coaches for various disciplines are lying vacant in various SAI’s (Sports Authority of India) across India. No wonder there are very few world class athletes in India. Here is what a Rediff article had to say about this shortage.

The state of grooming sporting talent in India can be guaged from the fact that around 500 posts for coaches at various training institutes run by the Sports Authority of India are lying vacant.

Replying to questions in the Rajya Sabha, Sports Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar also said the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan was also running short of 165 youth co-ordinators.

Regarding the shortfall in coaches at SAI institutes, Aiyar informed that it had been allowed to hire coaches on contract basis.

“Based on a report submitted by the Staff Inspection Unit (SIU) in July 1998 recommending large scale reduction in the sanctioned strength of SAI, including coaches, the ministry made it incumbent on SAI to seek prior approval of the government before the creation of any post.

“However, as an interim measure, SAI has been permitted to engage coaches on a contract basis, whenever required, and SAI is doing so,” the Minister said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

Answering a separate question, Aiyar said the NYKS had a sanctioned strength of 500 youth co-ordinators, but almost a third of the posts were lying vacant.

“The last recruitment of youth co-ordinators was made in 1994. NYKS initiated the process of recruitment in 1996-97, which was cancelled subsequently by the competent authority and later challenged in the Delhi High Court. The matter is still sub-judice,” the reply said.

The 2008-09 Budget intends to provide for opening of Nehru Yuva Kendras under a district youth co-ordinator in each of the 123 districts of the country not presently covered by the scheme, Aiyar added.