Bindra, Gopi, Nandi nominated for Task Force

New Delhi, ‘Super coaches’ Pullela Gopichand and Bisbeshwar Nandi, and shooter Abhinav Bindra are tipped to become part of the proposed Task Force mooted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to prepare a comprehensive action plan for the next three Olympic Games.
The Sports Ministry has nominated 12 names for the Task Force for the PM’s consideration. It has been reliably learnt that the names of Gopichand, Nandi and Bindra are in this list.
The success of PV Sindhu (silver) and Dipa Karmakar (fourth place) at the Rio Olympics has earned their respective mentors — Gopichand and Nandi — the tag of ‘super coaches’.
Gopichand, the chief national badminton coach, has been regularly churning out talented players such as Saina Nehwal, Parupalli Kashyap, Kidambi Srikanth and Sindhu; Nandi’s focussed approach and relentless hard work resulted in unforeseen success for Dipa. She not only became the first Indian female gymnast to qualify for the Olympics, but she also finished a very creditable fourth in the vault event at Rio. Five-time Olympian Bindra narrowly missed out on a bronze at the Rio Games, settling for a fourth-place finish in the 10m air rifle event.
“The terrific performance of their wards has made Gopichand and Nandi automatic choices for inclusion in the Task Force,” a Sports Ministry official told The Tribune. “Gopichand’s badminton academy has been regularly producing medal-winning athletes over the last few years. Bindra is, of course, a leading voice in Indian sports and also has experience as an administrator.”
“Their valuable inputs would be of great help as India prepares for an improved show in the next three Olympics,” the official added. “The recommended names include those of athletes, coaches, administrators and some former sportspersons who run coaching academies. The core group has been kept small so that the purpose doesn’t get defeated.”
Sports Authority of India (SAI) director Injeti Srinivas and Union Government Sports Secretary Rajeev Yadav are also likely to be part of the Task Force. The names will be finalised by Modi after his return from his ongoing three-nation tour on September 8. “The PM could either approve these names or suggest some other names of his choice. His decision will be final,” the official added.
The Tribune had spoken with a few leading voices in Indian sport to get an idea about who they want to see on the Task Force. They suggested that leading athletes, prominent industrialists and professionals from the business of sports should become part of it.