Revitalizing India's Sports Ecosystem: Anurag Thakur Advocates for Former Athletes as Coaches
Strengthening Sports Development in India
New Delhi, March 14: Anurag Singh Thakur, a Member of Parliament and former Union Sports Minister, emphasized the necessity of reintegrating former athletes into India's sports framework as coaches and mentors to enhance the nation's sports development.
During his address to sports journalists on the second day of the Golden Jubilee edition of the Sports Journalists Federation of India (SJFI) National Convention at the Constitution Club of India, Thakur remarked, “Numerous athletes who secured jobs through sports are now in office roles, yet many could return to the field as coaches or mentors, contributing significantly to the sports sector.”
Thakur highlighted the importance of establishing better systems for nurturing talent, advocating for structured athlete development and data-driven monitoring. “We must analyze data and implement a comprehensive tracking system for athletes' journeys to identify and cultivate talent early on,” he stated, stressing the need for effective utilization of sports science and rehabilitation centers.
He urged state governments to take a more active role in enhancing the sports ecosystem in the country. “As sports fall primarily under state jurisdiction, it is crucial for states to boost their budgets, develop infrastructure, and recruit more coaches to achieve improved outcomes in the future,” Thakur added, while also calling for regular evaluations of sports institutions and policies to ensure accountability and long-term effectiveness.
Thakur further underscored the necessity for stronger accountability within sports administration. “Institutions play a vital role. We need to assess the outcomes following recommendations and determine if our systems are yielding results,” he remarked, advocating for ongoing reviews and enhancements of sports policies and programs.
Earlier, DSJA president Abhishek Tripathi welcomed delegates, emphasizing the importance of the event during SJFI's milestone year. “This is a moment of pride as SJFI celebrates its Golden Jubilee. We are thrilled to host sports journalists from across the nation in Delhi and appreciate Anurag Thakur ji for engaging with our community,” he stated.
During the convention's second day, several dignitaries and stakeholders from the sports and corporate sectors were honored, including Shivalika Chadha Malik from Hero MotoCorp, Manva Sudarshan Hunswadkar from KRAFTON India, and Udita Dutta, founder and CEO of Artsmith, recognizing their contributions to the sports landscape.
The convention also featured various sporting competitions, enhancing the lively atmosphere. The JK Bose Inter-Zonal T20 Cricket Trophy saw the North Zone and South Zone achieve convincing victories in their matches at Roshanara Cricket Club and the Delhi Police Ground.
Additionally, the AC Bali Table Tennis Tournament, held at the same venue, witnessed the Delhi Sports Journalists Association (DSJA-1) triumph over the Sports Writers Association of Bengaluru (SWAB-1), while the Sports Journalists Association of Mumbai (SJAM-1) defeated the Tamil Nadu Sports Journalists Association (TNSJA-1) to secure a spot in the finals.
The DSJA-1 team, comprising Kushan Sarkar, Bharat Sharma, and Norris Pritam, is set to compete against SJAM-1's Amol Karhadkar, Ashwin Ferro, and Akush Dhavre in the title match scheduled for Monday at the same venue.