New Delhi, March 14: Former Union Sports Minister and MP Anurag Singh Thakur emphasized the need to reintegrate former athletes as coaches and mentors in Indian sports. He stated that the country is wasting a valuable resource by relegating experienced athletes to administrative roles.
Thakur made these remarks while addressing sports journalists on the second day of the Golden Jubilee National Conference of the Sports Journalists Federation of India (SJFI). The event was hosted by the Delhi Sports Journalists Association (DSJA) at the Constitution Club of India. He noted, “Many athletes who secured jobs through sports are now working in offices, while several could contribute significantly as coaches or mentors. In these roles, they can make a far greater impact on sports.”
He also highlighted the importance of a data-driven approach for athlete development, allowing for the identification and nurturing of talent from the early stages of their careers. “We need to analyze data and create a proper tracking system for an athlete’s entire journey, enabling early talent recognition and appropriate support for their development,” he said.
Thakur urged state governments to take greater responsibility in developing the necessary infrastructure and human resources to fulfill India’s sporting ambitions. He remarked, “Sports is primarily a state subject, and if we want better results in the future, states must increase their budgets, develop infrastructure, and appoint more coaches.”
On the issue of institutional accountability, Thakur stressed that policy recommendations should yield concrete and measurable outcomes. “Institutions are crucial. We must evaluate what has been achieved after recommendations are made and assess whether our systems are truly delivering results,” he added.
DSJA President Abhishek Tripathi underscored the significance of the occasion for the federation and the broader sports journalism community. He expressed, “This is a moment of pride as SJFI celebrates its Golden Jubilee. We are delighted to welcome sports journalists from across the country to Delhi and are grateful to Anurag Thakur for engaging with this community.” Throughout the day, several prominent figures from the sports and corporate sectors were honored, including Shivalika Chadha Malik from Hero MotoCorp, Manwa Sudarshan Hunswadkar from Krafton India, and Udita Dutta, founder and CEO of Artsmith, for their contributions to the development of sports.
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Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
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