While jubilation, controversies and athletes banned for years is looming over sports in India, there are a few names in the coaching arena who kept Indian hopes alive even without getting the credit. These are the coaches who burnt their hands with corrupt politicians gnawing away at resources meant for the developments of sports and dreamt not for their own but for their disciple’s glory.
While Bishweshwar Nandi will be duly recognized for his lifetime for creating an athlete like Dipa Karmakar there are few names who equally suffered like him. Despite of all the barriers these coaches quietly worked to turn the sports scenario of India. Almost after seven decades of Independence, coaches are getting their due credit. The sacrifices that are hardly recognized by Indian authorities-include those of the coaches who are building sports in India brick-by-brick.
With Arjuna, Dronacharya, Padam Shri and Padam Bhushan awards perhaps Satpal Singh is the most decorated and recognized coach in Indian history. Behind the medals it was Satpal Singh long love affair with wrestling that created stars like Sushil and Yogeshwar Dutt. In the seduction era of cricket where every sports has taken back seat it was Satpal Singh who took 70s and 80s game of wrestling to the Olympic podium. Fighting obstructive bureaucracy and public apathy he transformed the akhadas to the Olympic mats.
It will be wrong not to mention Pullela Gopichand name in the list after all he is the best thing to have happened to Indian badminton. In his career stint with All England title after Prakash Padhukone he lacked proper coaching facilities. He promised to eradicate the same problem by establishing world class coaching facility to overcome the hinderer. With many players from his academy reaching towards the highest recognition in badminton, Gopichand is creating the world beaters with a mission in his mind.
Abhinav Bindra wasn’t just lucky to have his father by his side who built international standard shooting range and swimming pool for him in the house but it was the hard work with Hungarian coach Laszlo Szucsak that made him the only Indian Olympian to have an individual gold medal. Szucsak fruitful stint from 2004-2009 saw rise of shooting as a sport in India and many names became international super-stars in shooting.
Another name that shines in Indian coaching arena was Bi Fernandez from Cuba who became the first foreign coach to be awarded the Dronacharya Award for his lifetime contribution in boxing ring. Bi had three spells with Indian boxing from 1990-1994, 1997-2000 and 2004-2014. But it was unfortunate to bid him farewell with a ban of two years because of his involvement with protest of Sarita Devi’s at 2014 Asian Games. He transformed neglected sports of boxing into medal winning superstars. The Cuban often fought with authorities to support the game, he knew that Indian player can do wonders if coaches are emotionally connected with the athletes.