Great boxers an outcome of zealous training: Cuban coach

Deepankar Sharda

Tribune News Service

Mohali, September 10

Cuban boxing coach Blas Iglesias Fernandez, the first foreign coach to be honoured with the Dronacharya Award, believes refresher courses are a must for coaches, especially from Punjab, for nurturing the talent available in the state.

The Punjab Sports Department started a seven-day refresher course camp on Wednesday at the Punjab State Institute of Sports (PIS).

Coaches from Mohali, Patiala, Roopnagar, Sangrur, Barnala and Bathinda are participating in the event. “Such courses should be organised at least once a year. I believe this is the right time for conducting such courses as coaches are less burdened. In the pre-Covid times, they remained under the pressure of conducting championships, coaching pugilists and many other things,” said Fernandez.

Fernandez laid emphasis on the scope for learning always. “At 63 also, I come across several new things everyday. Improvement is the key to sustain in any field. In the seven days, our coaches will get theoretical and practical training. If implemented in the right manner, results can be really good,” added Fernandez. The go-to veteran coach for boxers and coaches, Fernandez has a spent a long time at the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports in Patiala.

“I am always impressed with the talent here (Punjab). I wish to start a platform for youngsters. However, updating coaches’ knowledge is another challenge — I am working on it. Great boxers are an output of zealous training. If coaches are keenly interested, the results can be really good,” explained Fernandez.

On the language barrier between him and the coaches, Fernandez burst into a laughter and commented: “Ours is an action sport, talking isn’t for boxers. Nevertheless, I am fluent in English and so are other coaches. If I happen to learn some Punjabi, it will be wonderful.”

Meanwhile, Capt Amar Deep Singh, Director, Administration & Training (PIS), said all social distancing norms were being followed. “It’s a great initiative by the department and the state Sports Minister. Coaches are adhering to the social distancing norms. Only one coach has been put in one room. This is once in a lifetime opportunity for them,” said Singh.

Besides boxing, the department is also conducting short refresher-course camps for other disciplines from September 15 to October 9.