SAI to increase pressure on under-performing foreign coaches in coming months
Sports Authority of India is set to increase pressure on foreign coaches who have failed to obtain the desired results in various sports due to below-par finishes in international competitions. Long-distance coach Nikolai Snesarev, race-walking coach Alexander Artsybashev are some of its targets.
India registered their best medal tally at the recently-concluded Asian Games in Indonesia, where they racked up a total of 69 medals across all competitions. However, India failed to replicate their success in previous years in sports such as hockey and boxing as well as lesser-known events like long-distance walking and race-walking. Certain methods used by coaches have also been deemed too strenuous and hazardous.
A build-up of all these factors means that the SAI had to step in to calm the waters and ensure that the foreign coaches do their job adequately. The SAI had promised to review all the highly-paid foreign professionals post the Asiad Games and as per recent reports in TOI, they will begin the process in the coming weeks.
The Rowing Federation of India (RFI) is reportedly unhappy with the extreme coaching measures of 66-year old coach Romanian Gioga. Despite the rowers winning one gold and two bronze, RFI officials believe that the rowers could have won more medals if not for Gioga’s strenuous coaching routines.
Indian women boxing performance director Raffaele Bergamasco is another target for SAI authorities after the dismal performance of women boxers at this year’s Gold Coast CWG and the Asian Games.
Race-walking coach - Alexander Artsybashev face severe criticism after four of India’s top race-walking athletes - KT Irfan, Manish Rawat, Sandeep Kumar and Soumiya B were disqualified at the Asiad. Only 20km race walker Khushbir Kaur could manage a fourth-place finish.
Indian hockey’s high-performance director, David Ian John, is on the SAI hit-list after the Indian men’s team finished a disappointing fourth at the CWG. At the Asiad, the boys settled for a bronze after losing the semifinal to Malaysia. Indian men had won gold at the 2014 Asiad the SAI is believed to turn to John for an explanation. But with the Men’s hockey world cup fast approaching in Bhubaneshwar, John might just escape the axe on this occasion.