These Are India’s Top 5 Sports Coaches Who Will Grab the Dronacharya Awards of 2015

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has selected five sports coaches for the Dronacharya Award this year. The award recognizes the extraordinary contribution of coaches and will be given on August 29. Here's more about the selected candidates.

By Shreya Pareek

August 26, 2015

Behind every player who brings a medal back home, or performs extremely well in his/her sport, there is one person who puts in an equal amount of hard work to achieve success. And that is the coach; the person who leaves no stone unturned to make sure that his/her players are giving their best.

These amazing coaches are recognized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports through the Dronacharya Awards, which were instituted in 1985 for excellence in sports coaching.

Since Arjuna Award is given to the best sportsperson, it is just right to confer Dronacharya award to the coach, as Dronacharya was Arjuna’s teacher.

Here are the five incredible coaches who have been selected by the ministry for the awards this year –

1. Anoop Singh

Photo: www.jatland.com

Wrestling coach Anoop is a three time national champion and international wrestler who had to drop out of the game because of a serious knee injury. But the injury could not take away his passion. He started coaching Indian wrestlers and has trained around 58 people including Sushil Kumar, Yogeshwar Dutt, Amit Dhankhar, Satyawart Kadian, Bajrang, Amit Dahiya, Geetika Jakhar and many more. He currently holds the position of DSP in Haryana Police and has been training the Haryana Police wrestling team along with the national wrestling team. His coaching has been extremely effective for his students, and over six of them have won the Arjuna award.

2. Naval Singh

Naval Singh is India’s Paralympics coach and has been selected by the ministry based on his recent performance between 2011 and 2014. He had trained the Indian Paralympics team for the London Olympics too. His student, Jyoti bagged two bronze medals at the Para-Asian Games last year.

3. Nihar Ameen

Photo: LinkedIn

Swimming coach Nihar has been selected for the Dronacharya Award in lifetime achievement category for his achievements in the past 20 years. His training has been life changing for many swimmers in the country, including Shikha Tandon, Virdhawal Khade and Sandeep Sejwal.

4. S. R. Singh

Photo for representation purpose only. Source: Facebook Boxing India Page

This boxing coach has been associated with the sport since 1980s. He has also been selected for the lifetime achievement category. He has trained prominent boxers like Dharminder Singh Yadav, Jayadev Bisht, Sandeep Malik, Gurcharan Singh and Manoj Pingle.

5. Harbans Singh

Photo: www.sportsmedicineclinicdelhi.com

This 71-year-old athletics coach has also been selected for the lifetime achievement category. He has coached Paramjeet Singh, who broke Milkha Singh’s 38-year-old national record for 400-metres in 1998. He is also known to have trained athletes who won silver in the Bangkok Asian Games relay event, and broke the jinx for the country in men’s track events.

The awards will be given by President Pranab Mukherjee on August 29.

Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: [email protected], or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter (@thebetterindia).

Similar Story

Want to Play a Role in Shaping India’s Climate Laws & Policies? Here’s a One-Stop Guide

Civis, a platform that enables citizens to participate in public consultations in the domain of environment and policy has released Climate Voices. This is a handbook and guide for Indians to participate in environmental law-making and play an active role in shaping our climate policies.