Government, federations to jointly decide on foreign coaches

New Delhi, Nov 10 (IANS) Asserting that preparations for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics must start at the earliest, Sports Minister Vijay Goel said on Thursday that the government will have a say in selecting foreign coaches for various disciplines in consultation with the national federations.

Goel, who held a meeting with sports personalities such as shooter Gagan Narang, former hockey players Viren Rasquinha and Jagbir Singh and former director generals of the Sports Authority of India (SAI), said that the national sports federations (NSFs) will be made more accountable and will be consulted before taking a final decision.

"The preparations should begin now. That's why we called this meeting. We got several suggestions. A report will now be prepared including sports infrastructure available in the country.

"The Indian coaches will now be paid from Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakhs. The federations used to select foreign coaches but we will advertise the posts to make the selection, wherever it is required," Goel told reporters after the meeting.

"The government has already decided to issue open advertisement for engaging foreign coaches wherever possible. It will be ensured that foreign coaches who are engaged train Indian coaches as well. The existing sports facilities in the country including in SAI must be optimally utilised."

Goel also informed that the finance ministry has been asked to double the sports budget.

"We will also support the events which the NSFs will conduct. There will be accountability. We have shot letters to NSFs to tell us about their selection process and events organised by them.

"A number of steps will be taken to strengthen sports science set-up in the country. These include opening of Sports Science Centres and purchase of sports science equipment for the sports complexes of Sports Authority of India. A few universities will be identified in the country where sports science department can be opened," he said.

"It is imperative to give world class sports science support to our sportspersons so that they can achieve their full potential at the highest level."