Chak De GU

By Yogesh Avasthi & Pranjal Protim Boruah | March 27, 2016, 
(Ahmedabad Mirror http://ahmedabadmirror.indiatimes.com/ahmedabad/cover-story/Chak-De-GU/articleshow/51565875.cms 
For the record, Gujarat University's sports calendar lists 25 sports events for the year. Teams for the national, inter-college championships are also chosen from these events. If that made you wish to pat the university on its back for its efforts to promote sports among the students, get a reality check done. Gujarat University has only one permanent coach, in hockey, while they need a total of 10 coaches for all disciplines. As a stop-gap arrangement, they often resort to appointing coaches at the last minute to accompany the team for national meets. Incidentally, the university has some promising sporting talent in their midst but it seems the authorities have repeatedly failed to nurture them.

FALLEN OUT OF FAVOUR

"In the 90s we had coaches for volleyball, badminton, football and cricket. We had hired them from Sports Authority of Gujarat (SAG). But things appear to have changed with time. Now, we have just one permanent coach in hockey, while need a total of 8-10 coaches for other disciplines," a source told Mirror. "The sports seems to have fallen out of favour at the university. "It is very surprising that while the state government is trying its best to develop and promote a sports culture in the state, its top university is doing otherwise," the source said.

PERFORMANCE SUFFERS

The lack of coaching has surely affected the performance of Gujarat University players who have nothing much to show when it comes to national- level meets. "I feel both state government and Gujarat University should join hands to promote sports. There is no dearth of talent in the city and state. It just needs to nurture them well. And this is where the role of qualified coaches becomes important," Amandeep Singh, an international medallist in wushu, told Mirror. "Most of the times we have to pay from our own pocket for the training and hiring of coaches.

At least if they can hire qualified coaches then it will be good," a second year BCom student of RJ Tibrewal Commerce College said. Facilities need to be spruced up. "I have realised, through my international matches, that facilities play an important role in the development of a player," the student said. One of the top women paddlers in the state, Hely Shah who was part of the women's table tennis team that won the inter-college west zone meet, said, "There is no doubt that we need a permanent coach if we hope to do better in nationals. We also need to have proper camps before we participate in national meets which are tough.
Players from other universities come well-prepared." "Apart from that we also need the university to arrange proper facilities for us. Last time, we had to make our own travel arrangements as our tickets were not confirmed and our return journey was booked in general compartment. Moreover, our boarding facilities were not up to the mark and we had to arrange for our own stay ," the third-year BCom student of HL Commerce College said. Champion boxer Dhaval Baria, a final year student at HA Commerce College, said, "After Mirror reported the anomalies in the organisation of boxing meet last year, things are better this year. But there is a lot left to be desired as far as facilities for training are concerned."

"Boxing is an integral part of Indian sports now. It is one of our medal prospects. But boxing in state is yet to get the boost it needs. We need more boxing rings and proper coaching to give others a run for their money," said the 52kg gold medallist in GU zonal meet. Tennis star Suraj Desai, a former student and now an employee with Income-Tax, said, "Talent is never an issue. Think about it, we had won the west zone meet without a regular coach. Imagine what we could have achieved in the national meet if we had a regular coach. Coaches are an important aspect of a sport and most teams are accompanied by a coach."

BETTER FUTURE?

However, things look brighter as the state government has come up with a new sports policy that is aimed at promoting sports at the grassroots level with focus on schools and colleges. The university is also coming up with a modern sports complex and officials say that things will change after the complex is built. Accepting the shortcomings, Prof BD Vanar, director of Physical Education at Gujarat University said, "Yes, we accept that we lack coaches and the students could have done better under the guidance of a coach. But we are developing new sports facilities for the students. Once, we are done with the project, we will appoints proper coaches in all sports." Echoing the sentiments, GU Vice-Chancellor MN Patel said, "Yes, we don't have enough coaches. But I think without proper infrastructure, their services will be a waste. That is why we are looking at rebuilding the sports complex first. Once we have the infrastructure ready, we will have the coaches.