SFI seeks foreign coach

By Rakesh Rao

NEW DELHI, NOV. 9. In a bid to gain medal-winning capablities in the international arena, the Swimming Federation of India (SFI) has urged the Union Government to engage a foreign coach for a two-year period, intially for six months.

In its Long Term Development Plan (LTDP), the SFI has also suggested that a good number of Indian coaches be attached with the foreign coach. ``Our coaches might have the knowledge, but the fact is that we have not been able to reach the needed level,'' admits the SFI in the plan submitted to the government on Thursday.

Since there is only limited international exposure for the Indian swimmers, divers and water-polo players, the government is learnt to have agreed to the SFI proposal to invite some of the swimmers from within the continent for the National championship.

``The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has agreed to bear the expenses involved in inviting overseas participation. Some of the Indian swimmers will also get a chance to take part in the National championships of a few neigbouring nations,'' Mr. Virendra Nanawati, the SFI Secretary-General told The Hindu on Thursday.

The SFI also has plans to start training centres in Kerala, Bengal, Karnataka, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh with board and lodge and training facilities for selected swimmers.

A three-tier coaching-training system is also proposed. After identifying talent and providing regular coaching at the State and regional level, a group will be chosen and trained at the National camps for the 2002 and 2006 Asian Games and also for the Afro-Asian Games. Those presently identified as the best, will be sent abroad for training.

The SFI has also finalised its panel of coaches, beaded by Chief National Coach, Mr. K.V. Sharma.

The complete panel: Swimming: Northern Region: Messrs Khajan Singh, K.N. Ray, Brij Kant, Bhanu Sachdeva and Devendra Singh; Southern Region: Messrs M.R. Mohite and Pradeep Kumar; Western Region: Messrs T.K. Panigrahi and H.G. Bhagat; Eastern Region: Thouba Singh and B. Dey Chaudhary.

Diving: Messrs Ashok Sharma, Mayur Vyas, Sudhir Sharma, Chandratre, Hardial Singh, R. Durai, Ramesh Vyas, Dhawal Singh and R.B.S. Tomar.

Water-polo: Messrs Naresh Sachdeva, Succha Singh Sandhu, Devender Singh Rana, Bishnu Ganguly, Kishan Singh, D.P. Tokas, P.V. Pillai, Ibohl Singh, Bhaskar Nagarkatti and D.Mendonca.

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