OP Bhardwaj, India’s first Dronacharya Awardee in boxing, died right here on Friday after battling lengthy sickness and age associated points.
He was 82 years outdated and his spouse Santosh died about 10 days in the past attributable to sick well being.
Bhardwaj was given the very best nationwide honor in teaching collectively with Bhalchandra Bhaskar Bhagwat (wrestling) and Om Nambiar (athletics) when it was launched in 1985.
“He was unwell for several days due to health problems and was hospitalized. Age was a factor and there was also the shock of losing his wife about 10 days ago, ”TL Gupta, an in depth household good friend and former boxing coach, informed PTI.
Bhardwaj was the nationwide boxing coach of India from 1968 to 1989 and in addition served because the nationwide selector.
Under his patronage, Indian boxers received medals on the Asian Games, the Commonwealth Games and the South Asian Games.
A pioneer in Indian boxing, he was the primary chief teacher for sports activities on the National Institute of Sports India in Patiala.
“He started his career at the Army School of Physical Training in Pune and became a skilled coach for services. In 1975, when the NIS came up with the offer of coaching for a diploma in boxing, Mr. Bhardwaj was selected to start the course, ”stated Gupta.
“I’m proud to say that I was among his first students. He was an inspiration,” he stated.
In 2008, Bhardwaj additionally taught some boxing strategies to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for a couple of months.
Former nationwide coach Gurbakhsh Singh Sandhu, who was certainly one of his first college students at NIS, stated that the individual from Chennai was a sensible teacher.
“I shared a wonderful friendship with Bharadwaj ji. After joining NIS, I was his student as well as a colleague. I saw him laying the foundation for Indian boxing to flourish, ”stated Sandhu, beneath whose steering India received its first Olympic medal in boxing.
“He was always, always with the boys. He never stood up and gave instructions. He used to run with the boys while training, even run long distances. This is something that I told him Learned, fully involved. A different sad day, “he stated.
Gulati stated that Bhardwaj was impressed by the need to enhance issues for the sport.
“He was a dynamic person. I remember, in those days, when there were no computers and hardly anyone knew how to type, he bought a typewriter from a trip to Russia,” stated Gupta.
“He will write letters to the officers at NIS demanding higher services for boxers utilizing that typewriter.
He typed with only one finger as a result of he had no formal typing coaching, ”recalled Gupta, who retired from NIS as chief teacher a couple of years in the past.
Former National Federation common secretary Brigadier (retd) PKM Raja, throughout whose tenure he was the nationwide selector, stated Bhardwaj is very revered for his contribution to the sport.
“He was a veteran of the Services Game Control Board. A really exceptional coach and in addition a really influential persona. It is unlucky that a lot of his well being issues have restricted him enormously through the years. ”
Gupta stated that Bhardwaj had a fiery persona who usually got here throughout any alleged misbehavior of boxers.
“I remember, after the Asian Boxing Championships in the then Bombay in 1980, the team was coming back with two gold, five silver and three bronze medals. Their return to Patiala was not dependent on that,” he stated.
“Mr. Bhardwaj took it upon himself to combat for it with the officers and be certain that the boxers get higher lodging. He gave course to the sport at the moment. “
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
