New Delhi: Olympic medalist shooter Vijay Kumar advocates for equal recognition of personal and national coaches in athletes' development, amid ongoing debates ahead of the Paris Games. With several Indian athletes opting for personal coaching at the Olympics, Vijay stresses the crucial role these coaches play, alongside national coaches, in nurturing athletes to peak performance. Manu Bhaker, a pistol shooting medal hopeful, has chosen Jaspal Rana, a renowned figure in pistol shooting, as her coach for Paris.
Similarly, rifle marksman Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar is guided by former Olympian Joydeep Karmakar, although Karmakar won't be present at the Games. This trend extends across various disciplines, underscoring athletes' reliance on personal coaches to achieve their Olympic aspirations. Vijay Kumar, who surprised the world with a silver medal in rapid-fire pistol at the 2012 London Olympics, believes personal coaches deserve significant recognition for their role in shaping athletes.
"It's a complicated issue. Personal coaches should receive due weightage," Vijay asserts, drawing from his own experience transitioning from military service to becoming a decorated athlete. "Both national and personal coaches contribute equally.
National coaches provide that extra push, enhancing scores by 1-2 points and imparting skills to manage international competition pressures." While advocating for the importance of both types of coaching, Vijay emphasises the necessity for national .