DSO, 10 coaches found absent, face action

Chandigarh, June 23 (UNI) Punjab Sports Director Pargat Singh today warned strict action against officials who were found absent from their duties without giving any information.

Recently he made surprise visits to a number of coaching centres and found one District Sports Officer and 10 coaches absent from their respective centres.

The Sports Director has sought explanation from the concerned coaches and the DSO. After receiving reply from the coaches/DSO, the further action would be initiated.

District Sports Officer Hazari Lal, Mrs Harpreet Kaur Bal (hockey coach) and Baljinder Singh (handball coach) were found absent from their duties in Kapurthala on June 12. The same day, athletic coach B S Randhawa was marked absent in Jalandhar during the surprise visit by the Sports Director.

''The Department is providing all facilities for training and if any coach/DSO does not perform his/her assigned job sincerely, they will be deal with an iron hand. The Department is streamlining the functioning of the coaching centres,'' said Olympian and former Indian hockey captain Pargat Singh.

On June 16, the Sports Director paid surprise visit to 20 coaching centres in Ludhiana and found seven coaches, including one from Sports Authority of India, absent from their duties. He was informed that some of the coaches rarely visit their centres.

Athletic coach Mrs Saroj Bala is 'working' at the coaching centre at Guru Nanak Public School, near Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. The school does not have an athletic track.

Those found absent from their respective coaching centres in Ludhaina were: Mrs Saroj Bala (athletics), Mrs Surinder Kaur (gymnastics), Jaswinder Bhandari (basketball), Sudesh Kumari (basketball), Neelam Rani (SAI), Mohan Lal (basketball), Jarnail Singh (hockey).

UNI XC DP DH KN1833