Olympians, ex-international athletes to guide India's preparation for 2024 Paris & 2028 Los Angeles Games

2024 Paris and 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Many among them are ex-international athletes and Arjuna awardees who have competed or won medals in elite competitions such as the World Championships and Olympics during their playing career. Of the total number of coaches, as many as 101 support staff personnel will be joining on deputation from PSUs and other government departments. The recruitment comes in the wake of the effort of the Union sports ministry to provide 360 degree support to athletes as they prepare for important national and international competitions, including the Summer Games in 2024 and 2028. "I am happy that a number of former athletes who have competed at the highest international level of competition and won medals have applied for these posts and have been selected," said sports minister Anurag Thakur, adding, "Their inclusion in the system will mean that besides training athletes in the sport itself, they will be able to train them for mental toughness which is the key to success when competing at the world stage."

Anurag Thakur (ANI Photo)The new batch of coaches and assistant coaches has a host of eminent names, including Padma Shri awardee and Arjuna awardee, Bajrang Lal Thakar, who is a gold medallist at the Asian Games and joins as a Rowing coach. Shilpi Sheoran, who has won the gold in the Commonwealth Games in 2010, joins as an assistant coach in wrestling, Olympian Jincy Phillip joins as an athletics coach, Pranamika Borah, multiple medallist in leading international championships, comes onboard as a boxing coach. Speaking about what he looks forward to in his new assignment, Thakar said, "I am grateful to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) for offering me a chance to give back to sports as