BHUBANESWAR 11-Aug-2014 167
The adage that hard work never goes unrewarded proved true for Odisha-based SAI rowing coach Jose Jacob when his name was recommended for this year`s Dronacharya Award by a selection committee today.
But the 51-year-old coach feels sad that despite grooming around 150 rowers, including 16 internationals at the SAI Watersports Centre, Jagatpur (Cuttack), he had to wait for 14 years for this recognition.
``It is difficult to believe that my name has finally been recommended for the prestigious award. Despite delivering 218 medals, including 20 international though my students, I had to wait so long for the government recognition. I am grateful to the current selection committee for giving me justice. But I will not rejoicing untill the recommendation is approved by the Union Sports Ministry,`` said the 51-year-old coach.
Though born in Athirampuzha village of Kottyam district (Kerala), Jacob has made Jagatpur his second home where he has been working diligently for the promotion of rowing since the year 2000. However, he feels disappointed that the Odisha government never considered his name for the Biju Patnaik Award for outstanding coach.
``I don`t know the reason. Some say that my name was not considered because I am not an NIS coach. Others say that I am not a permanent resident of Odisha. But I am a Level-II international coach and have done the SAI certificate course. I am living in Odisha with my family for 14 years. The rowers I have groomed and the medals they have bagged are the proof of the service I have rendered. Were these not enough for the state award,`` lamented Jacob, who is fondly called as a `gentle giant` in rowing.
A national-level rower in his hey days, Jacob won one gold, one silver and two bronze medals in different national championships in the 80s. Under his guidance as a coach, Odisha won the team title in the National rowing championship for a record 13 times.
His wards Pramila Prabha Minz and Pratima Puhana bagged bronze medal at the Guangzhou Asian Games in 2010, while another Mina Madhuri Toppo won bronze at the World Championship.
The bespectacled coach is also optimistic of his pupils Sanjukta Dung Dung and Manjula Xess winning medals in the Asian Games at Incheon next month. An affectionate coach, Jacob gives the credit of his success to his students and promises to keep serving for the cause of rowing with same devotion and diligence.
The Dronacharya Award consists of a scroll of honour along with a cheque of Rs 5 lakh. From its inception in 1985 till 2013, 85 coaches, including one Cuban B I Fernandes of boxing, have received
the award.
This year`s Droncharya awards committee comprised of Monalisa Mehta (table tennis), Bhuvneshwari Kumari (squash), Ibomcha Singh (boxing), Sharda Ugra (sports journalist), Manoj Yadav (secretary, All India Police Sports Control Board), RD Singh, Jiji Thomson, Onkar Kedia, Sushil Doshi (commentator) and Shyam Rao (volleyball). (Courtesy The New Indian Express).
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PHOTO: Rowing coach Jose Jacob with some of his medal-winning girl students.
