China to train Indian coaches

BEIJING: India is all set to benefit from neighbour China's giant leaps in the sporting arena.
Talks are on with the Beijing Sports University (BSU) for training the first batch of Indian coaches and also with the China Institute of Sports Sciences (CISS) for training sports scientists on performance analysis and optimization of scientific support.
BSU will organize a tailor-made training module lasting 6-12 weeks for a batch of 20-80 coaches.
The final details are still being worked out with BSU. CISS will conduct a 2-3 weeks programme, possibly in May next year with four scientists in each batch. This is the first time India sports support staff will receive training from China which has emerged as a sporting giant.
Sports and youth affairs minister Ajay Maken on his recent visit to China heading a 500-member youth delegation met Liu Peng, director of State General Administration of Sports requested him to intervene and expedite the finalization of the programmes. The memorandum of understanding under which the programmes have been envisaged, was signed during President Pratibha Patil's visit to China last year. The MoU said that both the countries will facilitate participation of sportspersons in bilateral and multilateral competitions and in training cum competition exposure prior to major international events.
Maken also informed Peng about sports ministry's 'Come and Play' scheme for utilization of sports infrastructure constructed for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi and asked for his inputs on the Chinese policy for optimum use of such facilities. Peng said Chinese stadia are being utilized for sports events and for cultural programmes.
In addition to the training programmes in China, experts from CISS will also conduct a short duration seminar on Performance Analysis and Optimization of Scientific Support, in all probability in December this year. The sports ministry is also mulling the option of inviting Chinese coaches and experts to the Sports Authority of India centres in Patiala and Bangalore for training.
Meanwhile, the youth delegation, during its visit to China, was shown around the Oriental Oasis Sports Training Centre in Shanghai which specializes in water sports. It is close to the Huangpu River and contains a main stadium with a capacity of 15,000 people, a swimming centre that can accommodate 5000 people and an outdoor swimming pool with the same capacity. The facility where swimmers are trained to swim against a small pool of flowing water to strengthen their muscles was widely appreciated.