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 federations to appoint coaches with substantial international experience and a proven track record in handling high-stakes competitions. "Federations should appoint coaches who have competed internationally and won medals themselves," he insists, highlighting the critical role such coaches play in preparing athletes for the challenges they will face on the global stage.
Reflecting on the preparations of the Indian shooting team for the Paris Olympics, Vijay expresses concerns over the lack of a clear and timely roadmap. "From an outsider's perspective, our planning in the last six months has been lacking," he observes. "Federations should have outlined the competitions for shooters to participate in, the training regimen, and identified the necessary foreign exposure well in advance.
" Vijay criticises the delayed announcement of the Olympic team, which he believes disrupted the crucial final months of preparation. "The team announcement should have ideally been made by January or February," he remarks. "Instead, it was delayed until April, impacting the athletes' training schedules and mental preparation.
" He stresses the importance of allowing athletes adequate rest before embarking on rigorous training programs, a luxury denied to Indian shooters due to the delayed trials and team selection. "Athletes should have been given at least a month's rest before starting intensive training, coupled with foreign exposure and technical coaching," Vijay suggests, outlining his ideal preparation timeline. Regarding the growing trend of employing fitness and mental trainers in sports, Vijay expresses reservations based on his own experience and upbringing.
"I'm still undecided about the necessity of fitness and mental trainers," he admits. "While these roles can be beneficial, the environment in which an athlete is raised plays a significant role in their mental fortitude and competitive edge." Drawing from his formative years in the Army, where he trained alongside accomplished shooters at the Army Marksmanship Unit in Mhow, Vijay highlights the influence of peers and mentors in shaping his career.
"Being surrounded by top athletes like Pemba Tamang and Jitu Rai was inspiring," he recalls. "Their success motivated me and prevented complacency." Vijay Kumar, hence, underscores the symbiotic relationship between personal and national coaches in an athlete's journey to excellence.
He calls for greater recognition and support for personal coaches while urging federations to adopt more strategic planning and timely decision-making to maximise athletes' potential on the international stage. As India prepares its contingent for the Paris Olympics, Vijay's insights offer valuable perspectives on optimising coaching strategies and nurturing sporting talent effectively. PTI.
