Vijender Singh Advocates for Personal Coaches at Global Events Amidst Growing Debate

Olympian and politician Vijender Singh supports athletes' right to choose personal coaches over national ones for the Paris Olympics. Singh, a former boxer, highlights the importance of custom support staff in enhancing performance. He also speaks on the rising influence of social media in amplifying athletes' voices.

Olympic medalist-turned-politician Vijender Singh has weighed in on the ongoing debate regarding the need for personal coaches in addition to national coaches at global events. Singh firmly supports the athletes, stating they have every right to select their own support staff.

Several Indian athletes have brought personal coaches to the Paris Olympics, highlighting a growing preference despite an existing cohort of national coaches. Singh, during an exclusive interaction at the PTI headquarters, emphasized the necessity of granting athletes the freedom to choose their coaches and sparring partners.

Singh, who bagged numerous medals between 2006 and 2014, including a bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, stressed that the athletes' demands during training camps should be met. The Paris Olympic contingent comprises 140 support staff, with 72 financed by the Indian government, predominantly fulfilling the athletes' requests for personal coaches.

Singh also highlighted the role of social media in transforming the sports landscape, allowing athletes to voice concerns more freely. He credited the internet for enabling athletes to express their issues and receive support quickly by tagging influential people on platforms like Instagram and Facebook.