Kashikar leads coaches delegation for opening of indoor halls
   Date :14-Sep-2020

Mangesh Kashikar_1 &
 
Mangesh Kashikar (R), on behalf of about 200 state
badminton coaches, handing over a memorandum to Arun Lakhani, MBA President for opening of indoor halls.
 
 
Sports Reporter ;
 
SECRETARY (Tournaments) of the Maharashtra Badminton Association (MBA) Mangesh Kashikar, backed by around 200 state badminton coaches, met MBA President Arun Lakhani requesting him to look into open indoor halls for regular badminton practise. Kashikar, also Secretary, Nagpur District Badminton Association, handed over a memorandum to Lakhani at his residence.
 
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every aspect of life including sports. Coaches all over India particularly those who are into the indoor sports are worst affected as the Government is yet to give a green signal for the opening of indoor halls. Hundreds of coaches, for whom training young and upcoming players is the only means of earning, have been going through a tough time since the lockdown. Government gave some relaxation in a few activities during the unlock process but has avoided resumption of indoor sports. There is no proper organisation of coaches and that has added to their woes.
 
They are not able to put forward their demands unitedly. About two hundred badminton coaches have come together to fight for their cause. Coaches from almost all the districts of Maharashtra have signed a petition demanding resumption of badminton activities in indoor halls. Kashikar has come to their rescue. Copies of the memorandum were also forwarded to —Prime Minister Narendra Modi; Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, State Sports Minister Sunil Kedar and Badminton Association of India (BAI) President Himanta Biswa Sarma. Kashikar personally handed over the memorandum Lakhani at his residence on Saturday.
 
Nagpur’s senior badminton coaches Jayendra Dhole and Nikhil Rokde along with others co-ordinated and ensured the mass participation of State coaches in signing the memorandum. The letter states that the coaches will follow the instructions and guidelines of the Government authorities in view of the ravaging COVID-19 situation. “Our livelihood is completely dependent on coaching. With the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic and closure of all indoor sporting activities, we are in a very sorry state of affairs. With the sixth month of lockdown, we are badly hit monetarily. Various schemes and amenities have been announced by the government but none of these have made any difference in our current position,” said the letter.
 
“If allowed we plan to start with a limited number of players following all the social distancing norms and guidelines given by the government. We will strictly follow the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) of the sports ministry,” the letter read. Kashikar is hopeful of some solution in the days to come provided the COVID-19 situation subsidises. “Some of the coaches of the city met me and handed over the letter to me. I met Lakhaniji immediately and gave him the letter. He promised to address the issue of grieved coaches and will speak with the government authorities for the resumption of badminton activities in the entire state,” said Kashikar.