Sport - Squash

Poncha's selection criticised

Special Correspondent

MUMBAI: Squash coach Cyrus Poncha's selection for the Dronacharya Award, given by the Indian Government for outstanding coaching achievements and producing world-class performers, has led to a furore. Amitoj Inder Singh, a Chandigarh-based squash coach, has written to the President of India, the Prime Minister and the Secretary (Sports Ministry) on Thursday, questioning the rationale behind the decision.

Singh, associated with squash coaching for eight years in Chandigarh and Mumbai and currently Technical Director with the Indian Squash Professionals, a non-government organisation involved in squash promotion, said in a signed statement: "Poncha's claim that he had a hand in the success of Indian squash players does not amount to producing and you should ask the players and squash fraternity before announcing the award as to what the reality is. If the sanctity of the Dronacharya Award had to be defiled, the government and Sports Ministry could not have found a better way."

Singh elaborates reasons for a sense of outrage at the honour conferred on Poncha, appointed by the Squash Racquets Federation of India (SRFI) as national coach.

Special Correspondent from Chennai adds:

N. Ramachandran, the Secretary-General of the Squash Rackets Federation of India, said nobody had contacted him so far to ascertain anything about Poncha.

According to him, "the SRFI had only forwarded his impeccable record as the coach of the Indian teams, both junior and senior in the last three to four years. He had been associated with the teams that had brought laurels to the country. Beyond that, it was the Government which had decided on the award for Poncha''

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