Vijay Goel discusses infrastructure changes with Sindhu, Sakshi, Gopichand

New Delhi: A revamp of the existing coaching system, talent identification at grassroot level, setting up of more academies and facilities and bigger involvement of the corporate sector, were some of the key points suggested by former sportspersons at a meeting today with Sports Minister Vijay Goel to chart out a way for India's better show in future Olympics.

A round table discussion on 'Performance of India in Rio Olympics and Way Forward' was held on Monday, with a view to holding wide-ranging consultations and inviting views and suggestions for improving India's performance in future Olympic Games.

The round table discussion was chaired by Goel, and was attended by sportspersons of eminence, who have been conferred with Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award and coaches who have been conferred with Dronacharya Award since 2001 onwards.

Eminent sportspersons like PT Usha, Anju Bobby George, Sakshi Malik, MC Mary Kom, Sardar Singh, Gagan Narang, Pulella Gopichand, Khajan Singh, PR Sreejesh and coaches Satpal, Virender Poonia and N Ramesh were among those who attended the meeting.

Participants gave their frank and forthright views and suggestions for making India realise its potential and improve its position in medals tally in intentional events including Olympic Games, a sports ministry release said.

Important among the suggestions made by former sportspersons and coaches were:

• Development of second and third strings of players.
• Revamp of existing coaching systems to bring them in sync with the latest and modern coaching methods and techniques being employed by countries who are in the forefront of winning medals in Olympic Games.
• Good support personnel like physiotherapist, doctors, sport psychologists.
• Talent identification at sub-junior and junior level.
• More academies in specific sports discipline at state level.
• Adoption of academies and sports persons by corporates for providing financial support under CSR.
• Optimum utilisation of existing sports facilities.
• Involving former Olympians and players in coaching assignments.
• Extending the provision of reservation for sports persons in Group A and B posts also against the existing reservation in Group C posts only.
• Preparation and development of coach-led athlete-centric training programmes.
• Integration of sports with education
• Monitoring of the training programmes and performance of the sportspersons.

Goel stated that after conclusion Of Rio Olympics, he has initiated consultations with players, coaches and national sports federations to elicit their views and suggestions. He stated that he had written to all 117 sportspersons who participated in Rio Olympics.

He had already held a meeting with President and Secretary General of Indian Olympic Association and National Sports Federations on September 29.

Goel said that his Ministry will examine the views and suggestions received during the round table discussion, from the national sports federations and other sources, and will come out with an action plan.

Focused attention will be given to talent identification, preparation of long term development plans for training and competitive exposure to sportspersons, creation and upgradation of modern sports infrastructural facilities across the country with the involvement of state governments and the corporate sector, as well as the provision of sports science and sports medicine backup to players.

Virender Poonia said that the meeting discussed how India can win more medals in the near future in 2020, 2024 and 2028 Olympics.

"The minister asked suggestions from all the participants. Many were of the opinion that unless India pays attention at the college and university level, it will be hard to win medals at the Olympics. India will have to first produce medal winners at the University Games before thinking of winning medals at the Olympics," Poonia said.

"The participants also want constant monitoring of the performance of athletes and coaches.

"The minister said that there was the need to increase the involvement of corporate sector in the development of sports in the country. He said he will have similar discussions with PSUs," he added.