Athletics coach is over the age bar

The contract of Bahadur Singh, the 74-year-old Asian Games (1978 and 1982) gold medallist shot putter, ended on June 30 and the Sports Ministry did not extend it in accordance with its guidelines of keeping the upper age limit of coaches at national camps to 70.

New Delhi, July 7: Indian athletics chief coach Bahadur Singh’s 25 yearlong reign at the top post has ended with the Sports Authority of India (SAI) denying him a contract extension on the grounds of age restrictions.

The contract of the 74year-old Asian Games (1978 and 1982) gold medallist shot putter ended on June 30 and the Sports Ministry did not extend it in accordance with its guidelines of keeping the upper age limit of coaches at national camps to 70.

Singh, who ended his coaching career as one of India’s longest serving head coaches, took up the post in February 1995.

Confirming the development, Athletics Federation of India lauded Singh for his contribution to the sport. The release, however, said Singh resigned in the wake of the Ministry of Home Affairs’ advisory restricting movement of senior citizens.

Under Singh’s stewardship, India won 12 athletics medals, including two golds in the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games. The best came in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta where India won 20 medals in track and field competition, including eight gold and nine silver.

Sources in the AFI said that Singh may still be associated with Indian athletics in an advisory role.

Singh won back-to-back shot put gold medals in 1978 Bangkok and 1982 Delhi Asian Games to add to the silver he bagged in Tehran in 1974. He also won a medal each in four Asian Track and Field Meets — in 1973 (bronze), 1975 (gold), 1979 (bronze) and 1981 (silver).

Singh also competed in the Moscow Olympics in 1980. He was conferred with the Arjuna Award in 1976 and the Dronacharya Award in 1998. He was honoured with Padma Shri in 1983.