March 7, 2002

    Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Sushree Uma Bharti announced the setting up of a Committee to review the training of coaches being conducted by the Sports Authority of India (SAI). The Committee has been asked to review the content of the training being imparted to coaches with a view to reduce India’s dependence on foreign coaches. The Minister said that the country’s approach should be to improve the quality of our coaches to bring them at par with foreign coaches. There could be active association with sporting countries like Australia with whom India has already signed an MOU for cooperation in sports, Sushree Uma Bharti added. This Committee has been asked to submit a report with suggestions on balancing the basic and refresher training courses being conducted. The Minister was reviewing the performance of Netaji Subhash National Institute of Sports (NIS), Patiala, here today.

    Sushree Uma Bharti asked the Sports Authority of India to present a detailed action plan for the activities proposed during the year, keeping in view, the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and other International events. She also directed the officials to prepare a vision statement for sporting excellence in the coming five years. The other issues discussed at the meeting were – Provision of embankment for the astro turf at NIS, Patiala, Solving the gradient problem of the velodrome at NIS, Patiala and air-conditioning of rooms at NIS, Patiala.