Lack of talent worries JPS Sidhu

Sports Psychologists Dr. JPS Sidhu is a bit worried man nowadays. The two hockey academies under his supervision, for boys and girls, in Chandigarh runs short of inmates and they could not find adequate talents for enrolment. Sidhu is now Director, Sports, Chandigarh Administration.

“In particular, we could not get enough enrolment for girls’ academy which we started last year. Our team of spotters went to some of the known talent centers such as Meerut, Gwalior and Ganganagar but of no avail. Against the sanctioned strength of 24, we have only 14 now for the current year, and our efforts are continuing to spot talents. However, for the sake of numbers we would not be relaxing the norms we developed over the years”, Dr. Sidhu, who accompanied Indian national hockey teams as team psychologist and manager, says.

It is learnt that the Chandigarh Administration which owns and maintains, among other things, the Sector 42 Hockey Stadium has developed infrastructure for both football and hockey academies. Besides boarding and lodging facilities are made available right at the stadium, the boys and girls also get to go for schools as a part of over all package. Sizeable chunk of football recruits made it to the national sides, and the hockey academy boys are also making inroads into the national side.

“We want to keep the national character of these academies. We give traveling and dearness allowance for those who come for giving trails. Probably no other organization gives TA and DA for trails. Our doors are open, anyone who has talent are welcome. We are already having girls as far from Gorakhpur and Chhatisgarh”.

It is also gathered the situation with regard to boys’ academy too is not that good though not as bad as girls’. The boys academy has shortage of just two.

On asked whether his team of spotters went to nearby Shahbad – a town 70 km off Chandigarh that produces a stream of youngsters for the women’s national team – he said those girls get enough chances in their own set up and are hesitant to move out”.

Sidhu is happy the turf at the main stadium is still fine, despite five year old and witness hectic activity round the year. “I thank my managers and staff for the excellent upkeep of the facilities”.

We normally talk about lack of facilities for the up and coming players, but in practice the situation seems to be otherwise, if what Sidhu and his organization right now undergoing is any indications.

Are the physical education teachers in schools listening?