Paralympian Sumit Antil Highlights Egoistic And Abusive Coaches

Paralympic gold medallist Sumit Antil reveals a concerning trend of egoistic and abusive coaching practices, urging for a change in the athlete training culture.IMAGE: Photograph: Umit Bektas/ReutersKey PointsSumit Antil alleges that approximately one-third of coaches are egoistic, resistant to new methods, and sometimes abusive.Antil suggests that athletes leave coaches due to the coachs inability to facilitate further progress or due to behavioural issues.Antil highlights the issue of coaches claiming credit for athletes success primarily due to the lure of prize money.Antil recounts his own experience of leaving a coach due to an unsuitable environment and the coachs behaviour towards his family and other athletes.Two time Paralympic gold medallist Sumit Antil alleged one third of coaches are highly egoistic, use outdated training methods, stubborn and some of them are even abusive.Antil, who has broken his own world record in F64 javelin throw category in Bengaluru last week, was candid enough to give his own example as a victim to these abuses to prove his point.

The Problem With Outdated Coaching MethodsThere are some coaches who are egoistic who are not willing to learn and act with time.

The ratio I would say is 30 per cent to one third of the total coaches.

The older coaches are more egoistic than the newer lot, Antil told PTI in an exclusive interview from his hometown in Sonipat.I have seen others who are willing to adopt new things.

Those who have become coaches after 2010-11 are willing to learn and adopt newer things and techniques.Why Athletes Change CoachesThe Parlalympic world record holder believes no athlete would leave his coach if he was doing his job and maintained a good behaviour.No athlete is a fool to leave his coach.

He leaves because either he wants to reach the next level which the coach is not able to provide or because of his bad behaviour.For example, Virender Sehwags coach (A N Sharma) understood him very well and thats why Viru bhai went back to him again and again.

When he played for India he wasnt training under his childhood coach and the coach understood that well, he wasnt possessive, he pointed out.Antils Personal Experience With Coaching IssuesSumit did not hesitate to bring up his own case to substantiate his allegations.In my case, I left had left a coach, who still claims I am his....