KUALA LUMPUR – The National Sports Council (NSC) have confirmed that national para athletics head coach R. Jaganathan will no longer train the squad.
NSC director-general Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail said this was to enable the younger coaches to take over and raise the standard of the para athletes further.
He also said that several young coaches had been placed under Jaganathan’s tutelage so as to gain knowledge and experience from the respected coach, adding that this process began several years ago in a bid to ensure a consistent supply of high-level para athletes.
“Jaganathan has held discussions with me and emphasised that the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics would be his final multi-sports Games and agreed to let the continuity process to take place,” he told a media conference at the NSC in Bukit Jalil here today.
Ahmad Shapawi said Jaganathan’s responsibilities will be taken over by his assistant, Ahmad Rafee Arifin, who has been involved in the field of coaching since 2018.
“We feel that this is the best time to give him this opportunity but it is also subject to joint discussions with the Malaysian Para Athletics Association (POPM) (to see) if we require the services of other coaches to handle the para athletics training programme, especially in preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympics,” he said.
Ahmad Shapawi, however, said that the NSC and POPM were of the opinion that they could still tap into Jaganathan’s experience and have offered him a new role to play in an effort to produce more quality athletes.
He said both the entities had held talks with Jaganathan regarding the role the 64-year-old coach could play in terms of the development of para athletics coaches.
“What is important is that we will still retain his services… his role may be different but it will still be crucial towards the comprehensive development of the sport,” he said.
Previously, Jaganathan’s appeal to be retained as head coach became the focus of attention when national para sprint ace Mohamad Ridzuan Mohamad Puzi could not hold back his tears when asked about the fate of his coach during an interview with a pay-television station.
Meanwhile, Jaganathan also admitted that it was time for him to pass the baton to the younger coaches so that they would be able to learn how to handle the para athletes.
“I believe that the young coaches, with their determination and commitment, will be able to produce para athletes who are competitive,” said Jaganathan, who added that he was ready to share his knowledge on coaching para athletes with the younger coaches.
He has also come to an agreement with the POPM to handle programmes involving coaching development.
POPM president Mohd Zarrawi Ravi Abdullah, meanwhile, acknowledged that the country lacked qualified para sports coaches, especially for athletics.
“We think that it is time for us to train our coaches and we feel that he (Jaganathan) is the most qualified person based on his experience,” he said. – Bernama, February 3, 2022
