Chinese coach to train Indian shuttlers

Chandigarh, Sep 6 (UNI) The Badminton Association of India has contracted leading Chinese singles coach Lin Zhen Ciao Nan to train the Indian shuttlers.

The Chinese national coach is looking after the national coaching programme in Laonaing Province. His present term is for two years.

However, it may be extended to four years.

Giving this information here today, BAI vice-president TPS Puri said that the training by the Chinese coach was part of the training programme which had been structured in such a way that the elite group of 32 probables would be undergoing 210 days of training in a year.

Former chief NIS coach Puri said that after consultation with Lin Zhen, the Badminton Association of India would engage another Chinese coach for the doubles players. Twelve probables will be sent to leading clubs of Malaysia or Indonesia for 60 days in a year for training under renowned coaches. The BAI will also invite leading players from Indonesia for the 60 days coaching camps in a year to provide world class competitive sparring to the Indian elite group.

The BAI has chalked out a long term training programme to promote top players to a medal winning category which assumes greater importance with India hosting the 2009 World Cup Badminton and the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

He said that recent results have been encouraging. Saina Nehwal, Ajay Jairam, Kashyap and Anand Pawar, who are part of the elite squad of 2010 Commonwealth Games, have given outstanding performance in the recent six-star tournaments in Korea and Hong Kong. Earlier performance in the Asian Circuit was also encouraging in which Saina won a four-star tournament in Philippines.

Under the LTDP, top probables will be provided for 10 to 12 international competition/exposeres/official championship in a year.

The BAI will implement the programme strictly. To monitor all the aspects a central or international training board has been consituted under the chairman TPS Puri.

The BAI has made it mandatory for the selected players to attend the National coaching camp organised for India's participation in international tournaments..

Badminton is one of the medal disciplines in the 2010 Commonwealth Games. It is for the first time that a World Championship has been allotted to India by the international governing body.

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