The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) will soon appoint 16 coaches for different sports disciplines to ensure students in corporation schools have adequate access to sports facilities like their peers studying in private schools.
Diversifying the field
At present, the corporation has hired on a contractual basis one coach each for taekwondo, chess, and cricket. Education Department officials said coaches would be appointed to train students in games such as football, kabaddi, kho-kho and table tennis.
NMMC Education Officer Sandeep Sangve said, “Our students have great potential. Currently, we train only secondary school students in taekwondo, chess and cricket. We have seen good results and now want the primary school studentsto benefit from the facility. Now, we will appoint additional coaches.”
The NMMC’s general body has passed the proposal and the civic body will soon put out an advertisement inviting coaches to apply for the positions. Mr. Sangve said, “Eligible candidates will be interviewed and we will complete the selection process as soon as possible.”
NMMC Sports Officer Revappa Gurav said, “Sports is a must for overall development. Currently, we select students from the secondary school level as we don’t have many coaches to train all sudents. By appointing specialised coaches we hope to improve the performances of our students.”
The Sports Department has now identified 14 playgrounds across its nodes where students can be trained. Cricket coaching classes for 60 students are now held at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium and the department has identified additional locations, one each in Vashi, Gansoli and Airoli.
In fine form
At preesent, 150 students in NMMC schools have enrolled themselves for taekwondo coaching, of which 16 represent the State and five are national players. Of the 40 students undergoing chess classes, two play for the State.