‘Former Players Should Be Brought Back into Sports as Coaches’: Anurag Thakur
Dr. Shrikrishna Sharma
New Delhi. Former Union Sports Minister and Member of Parliament, Anurag Singh Thakur, stated on Saturday that to strengthen its sports ecosystem, India should reintegrate former players into the sporting fold by assigning them roles as coaches and mentors. Addressing sports journalists at the Constitution Club of India on the second day of the four-day Golden Jubilee edition of the Sports Journalists Federation of India (SJFI)—hosted here in Delhi by the Delhi Sports Journalists Association (DSJA)—Thakur noted that many athletes who secured jobs under the sports quota are currently working in offices. He argued that many of these individuals could make a far greater contribution to sports by returning to the field in the capacity of coaches or mentors.
Emphasizing the need for a robust system to better hone talent, Thakur also highlighted the importance of an organized athlete development framework and data-driven monitoring. Furthermore, he stated, “We must analyze data to track an athlete’s entire journey, thereby enabling early talent identification and ensuring they are groomed with the appropriate support.” He also suggested that sports science and rehabilitation centers should be utilized more effectively.
Mr. Thakur also appealed to state governments to play a more active role in strengthening the sports sector. He remarked, “Sports is, to a large extent, a state subject; if we aspire to achieve better results in the future, states must increase their budgetary allocations, develop infrastructure, and appoint more coaches.” He also underscored the necessity of institutional accountability within sports administration. Mr. Thakur observed, “Institutions are of paramount importance. We must evaluate what has been achieved following various recommendations, and determine whether our systems are, in fact, yielding tangible results.” He also highlighted the need for the continuous review and refinement of sports policies and programs.
Earlier in the proceedings, DSJA President Abhishek Tripathi welcomed the delegates and highlighted the significance of the event. He stated, “This is a moment of pride for us during the Golden Jubilee year of the SJFI. We are delighted to welcome sports journalists from across the country to Delhi, and we extend our special gratitude to Mr. Anurag Thakur, who engaged in a dialogue with the journalistic fraternity.”
On the second day of this conference, several dignitaries from the sports and corporate sectors were also felicitated. Shivalika Chadha Malik of Hero MotoCorp, Manava Sudarshan Hunswadkar of Krafton India, and Udita Datta—Founder and CEO of ArtSmith—were among those honored.
In the ongoing JK Bose Inter-Zonal T20 Cricket Trophy, matches played at the Roshanara Cricket Club and the Delhi Police Ground saw the North Zone and South Zone successfully win their respective games. Meanwhile, in the AC Bali Table Tennis Tournament, the Delhi Sports Journalists Association (DSJA-1) claimed victory by defeating the Sports Writers Association of Bengaluru (SWAB-1). Additionally, the Sports Journalists Association of Mumbai (SJAM-1) secured a spot in the final by defeating the Tamil Nadu Sports Journalists Association (TNSJA-1). (Sports Editor)
