Chief NIS badminton coach Bhandari retires

Chandigarh, May 3 (UNI) Sports Authority of India chief badminton coach (Academies) P K Bhandari retired after completing a meritorious service of 32 years on April 30. His colleagues and all staff members of National Institute of Sports, Patiala, felicitated Bhandari and wished him good luck.

Mr Bhandari was on the panel of Badminton Association of India coaches from 1983 to 1996. He conducted various national level coaching camps for boys and girls. He accompanied the Indian team which participated in the Junior World Badminton Championship in Holland in 1988. He was also attached with the Indian schools badminton team which competed in the Asian Schools Badminton Championship in China in 1992.

Mr Bhandari also conducted refresher courses in advance coching for coaches of Sports Authority of India since 1983. The NIS badminton coach-in-charge also attended International Olympic Committee/International Badminton Federation coaching course in 1991.

As a chief coach (Academies) Bhandari imparted and forwarded his knowledge to his trainees/future coaches of diploma and refresher courses. He also trained the local shuttlers who were securing positions at the state and national level. Chanderdeep Singh Randhawa, Nisha Bhagwat, Yogita Sharma, Vijaydeep Singh, Navdeep Singh, Nancy Keith and Meeta Bhandari are some of his outstanding trainees.

During 1971 to 1973 he was posted in Chandigarh. Later he was posted in Uttar Pradesh from 1974 to 1982. His trainee, late Syed Modi, became junior national champion in 1976. From 1983 onwards, Mr Bhandari joined NIS Patiala and tought regular courses.

UNI XC DP PG VC1700