SAI has still not decided on new dates for tests to hire budding coaches

By Qaiser Mohammad Ali in Delhi

THE supposed openings for coaches in the Sports Authority of India (SAI) continues to be a mirage for those who applied for the rare job opportunities, and it has been more than two months after the apex sports body abruptly postponed the interviews in February and didn’t even assign any reason for its heartless act.

The latest status of the recruitment is: The SAI/sports ministry has not decided on the dates for the tests/interviews. The decision to postpone to the tests led to a huge disappointment, disenchantment and anger among the aspiring young coaches, as some of them came to know about it only on reaching Delhi while others were informed midway through their train journey to the national Capital.

SAI says the process to “remove subjectivity” and “introduce more objectivity” to the selection process is taking time, and that’s why the delay in announcement of the fresh dates.

“We’ve not decided as yet on the new dates. The selection procedure is being decided. New dates will be announced in newspapers,” SAI secretary Gopal Krishna told Mail Today. “Talks are on with a government agency to conduct the tests.”

Sources in the sports ministry say that the Educational Consultants India Limited (Ed.CIL), a public sector enterprise that works under the HRD ministry, is most likely to conduct the tests. “The idea is to make the exams more competitive, so that coaches are hired only on merit,” said one.

Quite inexplicably, it has also not been decided whether those who applied for the tests would automatically take the tests. If those who went through the rigmarole in February are made to re-apply, it will be another torture for the young coaches.

(This story first appeared in Mail Today, New Delhi)