New Delhi, 27 July (H.S.): Amid the impressive performance of Indian athletes at the Commonwealth Games 2026, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has highlighted the crucial role of coaches, whose years of hard work, strategies and guidance form the strong foundation behind every sporting success.

With India making a strong start at the Games through medals in para powerlifting and record-breaking performances in weightlifting, the relentless contribution of coaches has been equally significant behind these achievements.

IOA President Dr. P.T. Usha said that every great performance is backed by a great coach. According to her, coaches spend years nurturing athletes’ talent, building their confidence and preparing them for high-pressure competitions. Although they do not appear on the medal podium, their hard work and dedication are reflected in every medal won by India.

According to an IOA statement issued on Monday, coaches of the Indian contingent provide much more than technical training. They play a key role in developing strategies, analysing videos, preparing recovery plans and boosting athletes’ morale during challenging moments. This requires them to simultaneously perform the roles of teachers, mentors, psychologists and strategists.

In weightlifting, coach Vijay Sharma, who has been working with Olympic medallist Mirabai Chanu for a long time, is regarded among the country’s top high-performance coaches. In athletics, a team of specialist coaches under chief coach Radhakrishnan Nair has been continuously guiding athletes, including Neeraj Chopra and Murali Sreeshankar, across various disciplines.

In swimming, coaches such as Nihar Amin and Sandeep Sejwal, while in boxing, the strategies and in-game guidance provided by coaches have played a crucial role in enhancing athletes’ performances.

The contribution of coaches has also been extremely important for para athletes. India’s medal-winning start in para powerlifting has demonstrated that strong preparation and effective coordination between athletes and coaches can lead to major achievements at the international level. Coach Jitendra Pal Singh, along with the entire support staff, has been working continuously to prepare athletes both technically and mentally.

The IOA said that providing athletes with the support of experienced coaches and technical experts is a key part of its high-performance strategy. The association believes that every medal is not created only on the field but begins at training camps through a coach’s planning, guidance and motivation.

This is why, behind every Indian success at Glasgow 2026, the efforts of coaches stand as an equally important force alongside the athletes themselves.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar