12-year-old Chennai boy Praggnanandhaa became world’s second youngest Grandmaster at 12 years, 10 months and 13 days. For any sportsperson to excel, the contribution of a coach is unparalleled. Hence, congratulations are in order for little Praggnanandhaa’s coach Ramesh RB, too.
After congratulating Praggnanandhaa on his victory, Ramesh BB took to Twitter to express his displeasure over the government policy in awarding sports awards, especially to coaches. He expressed his apprehensions and discomfort that for a coach to be eligible for the prestigious Dronacharya Award, the coach must apply himself.
My impressions on the current scenario in Indian sports award system by central/state governments: 1. Anyone who achieves creditable performance in any sport field must apply for the award himself to be eligible for it. This in itself I am not comfortable with.
— Ramesh RB (@Rameshchess) June 24, 2018
He said the award must go to the deserving coach without him or her having to apply for it. He recounted how many awards his students have won over the years.
3. Apologies for washing dirty linen in public: My students had won 29 medals in World youth Championship, 39 medals in Asian youth championships, 17 medals in Commonwealth championships, 17 National titles in last few years
— Ramesh RB (@Rameshchess) June 24, 2018
He said that having coached so many students to bring laurels to India, he had applied for Dronacharya Award back in 2014, but was awarded zero points by the authorities.
4. With this set of achievements had applied for Dronacharya award couple of years back (including Bronze medal win in Chess Olympiad in 2014) and to my surprise I was awarded ZERO points by esteemed authorities
— Ramesh RB (@Rameshchess) June 24, 2018
To put things in perspective, World Chess Olympiad is the 2nd biggest sporting event after Olympics in terms of countries participating. He said how this was not a pleasant experience for him. He said how the cash award application by his students for him as a coach are also ignored and that no chess coach has been awarded cash award since past 15 years.
5. Learnt my lesson that day. Not pleasant at all. Morever, all the cash award applications from my students for their coach have been simply ignored. NO Chess coach get cash award anymore for last 15 years or so
— Ramesh RB (@Rameshchess) June 24, 2018
He said how he quit his job in 2008 to start giving training for the sport, and how the cash award would have given some financial relief to his family back then.
6. When I quit my job in 2008 and started with nothing to support my family to start my coaching career, these cash awards would have helped a long wa had they been given on time. Now I am financially well settled and am not dependent on these cash awards anymore
— Ramesh RB (@Rameshchess) June 24, 2018
Saying how non-Olympic sports are considered illegitimate child, he said how chess coaches are ignored for Dronacharya Awards.
7. There are other good coaches in Chess who are in similar boat. No coach is paid any cash incentive though there is policy for this. Chess coaches are not deemed deserving for Dronacharya awards. Non Olympic sports are considered illegitimate child
— Ramesh RB (@Rameshchess) June 24, 2018
He thanked the public for the support he has been receiving, but disillusioned by government policies, he has decided not to apply for awards again for fear of getting ‘similar treatment’ again.
8. Though am grateful for all the support by well meaning public in social media, do not have intention of applying for award again and getting similar treatment
— Ramesh RB (@Rameshchess) June 24, 2018
He appealed that non-Olympic sport should also be given equal opportunity to be considered for Dronacharya Award and other awards.
9. Non Olympic sports should be given equal opportunity to be considered for Dronacharya award and other awards as is not the case now.
— Ramesh RB (@Rameshchess) June 24, 2018
Dronacharya Awards are sports coaching honour [pdf] given to coaches who produce outstanding results in different Olympic sports disciplines, non-Olympic sports disciplines recognised by Government of India and other sports as recognised by Government. Since its institution in 1985, the award has been awarded to chess coaches only twice, Raghunandan Vasant Gokhle in 1986 and Koneru Ashok in 2006.
