Bhavsar wants to coach Indians

NEW DELHI, 2 JUNE: The dormant state of Indian gymnastics notwithstanding, the country has no dearth of talent, says Indian-American Olympic bronze medallist Raj Bhavsar (in photo), who wants to coach gymnasts here. “I would like to coach the Indian gymnastics team if given a chance,” Bhavsar said. “I have come with an open mind to give back whatever I have achieved. It hasn't been easy for me to win the bronze and I would like to share my experience with the guys and help them with technical details involving the sport.
“There is a structure, there are some good gym training centres coming up too in India and the government is also backing them with adequate fund programmes, there is no dearth of talent either.
“What they need is just a spark through some good performance at the highest level to catapult them to success and I would like to help them in attaining that through interactive sessions,” said Bhavsar, who was part of the American team that won a bronze medal in the Beijing Olympics.
An artistic gymnast with roots in Gujarat, Bhavsar feels Indian gymnastics needs greater public awareness, which can come through live entertainment shows.
“There is lack of public awareness of the sport in India. If we can promote it through live entertainment shows with the help of music and acrobatics, I think it would draw the attention of young kids and they would take up the sport,” Bhavsar said. “In America, we have limelight and media and gymnastics is a highly watched sport which brings a lot of money from the private sector, unlike India. “Some of my business associates are also interested in organising such gymnastic shows to create awareness and showcase the sport to the Indian public,” he added. A member of the 2001 and 2003 world champion American team, Bhavsar said he met the Gymnastics Federation of India and the Commonwealth Games organising committee today to discuss if he could have a role in India's preparation for 2010 Commonwealth Games.
“I met with the officials and we discussed various options through which I can contribute to the Indian team's preparation for the Commonwealth Games. There were discussion about my role as a technical consultant. The response were positive but nothing has been finalised as yet,” he said. Bhavsar will also visit the gymnastics facility in Allahabad tomorrow.

Finance a concern for World Badminton but we are optimistic: Verma

New Delhi, May 29 (PTI) The global economic downturn has hit the preparations of World Championship but Badminton Association of India President V K Verma says he is optimistic of roping in enough sponsors to tide over the financial crisis and make the event a grand success.


"Financial resources are a major concern because the projected expenditure for the event is about six crore, including three crore that needs to paid to the Badminton World Federation as the sanction money. As of now we have managed half the money and efforts are on to get the rest," said Verma.

"We are doing the marketing, we have prepared the project report of the World Championship and sent it to the various sponsors. But the market is so negative at the moment because of recession, that the response is slow but we hope to raise some more money," he added.

Verma, who has been appointed vice-president of the BWF recently, said there would be stringent security arrangements for the event and Australian security experts would be present throughout the event scheduled from August 10 to 16 in Hyderabad.

"A security team from Australia is coming to Hyderabad from June 1-5 to do an extensive survey and would be meeting the police commissioner and minister in-charge for security in Hyderabad.

"They would give us a blue print for the different levels of security that needs to be implemented. They would be working along with the organising committee and security experts from Intelligence Risk (a security agency) would be there throughout the tournament," Verma said.

Verma said it would be wishful thinking to hope India would win the event but nevertheless he wants the country's shuttlers to at least make the quarterfinal and semifinal of the tournament.

"We would be happy with Saina (Nehwal) reaching the semi-finals and Chetan Anand entering the quarterfinals and one doubles pair reaching the quarters or prequarters, that should be good," he said.
Verma also said that efforts are on to send a senior team of six to nine shuttlers for specialised training in Indonesia, prior to the tournament in July.
"We have sent a proposal to the Badminton Association of Indonesia to provide training to six to eight top Indian shuttlers, like Saina, Chetan (Anand) in July this year. The team will mainly have doubles players like Rupesh-Thomas and Jwala-Diju," he said.