Even in ‘presence’ of coach, hockey colts face ‘training crisis’
The central government’s ambitious ‘Khelo India Khelo’ scheme, which is to be launched nationwide on January 31, is unlikely to have a smooth sailing in Uttar Pradesh as even the state capital lacks ‘adequate system’ to cater to genuine sportspersons.
For example, the Padmashree Mohd Shahid Synthetic Hockey Stadium within the Vijayantkhand Stadium is not open for players, especially young children, despite having a permanent hockey coach. Either the players find the stadium locked for most of the time or the coach is not available.
Out of 40 registered hockey players (as confirmed by the regional sports office), one can find only one or two players training at the venue, and that too, after making it to the turf from the back door.
On Wednesday evening, the doors of the stadium were locked and two young trainees were hitting the ball all alone as the coach was not present. The players kept waiting for the coach who did not arrive even after the routine training got over.
A young trainee Lovely Yadav said though there was a hockey coach at the venue but was unable to tell the exact timing of his arrival. “We have a coach for routine training but there are only 7-8 players as trainers,” she said. A peon at the stadium said most of the time he received instructions for maintenance over the phone as the coach hardly visited the stadium.
“It is a misuse of public money as this stadium was established for the benefit of players. Lucknow is a nursery of hockey players but is being wasted as the players aren’t allowed training and no sincere efforts are being made by the coach,” a veteran hockey player Mithilesh Srivastava said on Wednesday when he found only two youngsters playing on the ground.
The then Akhilesh Yadav government had spent several crores rupees on the construction of this stadium in December 2016 for practice matches during the Junior Hockey Men’s World Cup. The venue was supposed to cater to the training of hockey players. As part of its extension plan, the stadium is also due to have stairs for spectators as well as a hockey hostel for children.
Training in other disciplines at the Vijayantkhand Stadium are also in shambles as badminton, table tennis, squash don’t have even ad hoc coaches, but contrary to this training in tennis is at its best with the regular presence of 31 boys and 11 girls.
Regional sports officer Jitendra Kumar Yadav said officially there were 40 hockey trainees (on paper) at the venue. He said he had been informed about the absence of the coach on routine basis.
“It is really shocking that some people do not want to discharge their duty honestly,” he said, adding, “I will personally look into the matter and take the appropriate action soon.”