The best colts have come from this stable

NEW DELHI, July 19: Surinder Khanna, Sunil Valson, Kirti Azad, Maninder Singh, Gursharan Singh, Vivek Razdan, Ajay Jadeja, Rahul Sanghvi,...

NEW DELHI, July 19: Surinder Khanna, Sunil Valson, Kirti Azad, Maninder Singh, Gursharan Singh, Vivek Razdan, Ajay Jadeja, Rahul Sanghvi, Gagan Khoda, Nikhil Chopra and Vijay Mehra (UAE). There is a common factor other than cricket that puts the above mentioned players in the same bracket. It is not just that they all have represented the country at the highest level but the more astonishing fact is that all of them had their initial training at the National Stadium in the Capital — a cricket nursery and a cradle which has nurtured many young cricketers who in the bygone years have represented various states in national championships.

Perhaps, the National Stadium Coaching Centre holds the unique record in the country of having produced as many as 11 cricketers who went on to represent the country. While four of them — Jadeja, Rahul Sanghvi, Gagan Khoda and Nikhil Chopra — were students of Sardar Patel Vidyalaya when they joined the National Stadium as trainees — Gursharan Singh and Maninder Singh were products of Bal Bharati Air Force School. Vivek Razdan and Vijay Mehra (who represented UAE in the Wills World Cup in 1996) came from St Columba’s.

With the increasing popularity among the younger lot for the game, it is no wonder that coaching centres all over the country have gained immense value and importance. To give proper guidance and training to aspiring cricketers, the Sports Authority of India has set up three main centres in the Capital — National Stadium, Nehru Stadium and Indira Gandhi Stadium. And of the three centres, the National Stadium has remained the most popular among the trainees.

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Even after the retirement of Dronacharya Awardee and former national coach Gurcharan Singh a few years ago, the National Stadium centre has not lost its goal of striving for excellence. Two NIS coaches, Ramesh Chopra and M.P. Singh are now in charge of the 60-odd boys who turn out at the centre every afternoon, aspiring to become another Jadeja, Maninder Singh and Kirti Azad.

“Television has made everyone cricket-crazy. Now every parent wants his son to become another Sachin Tendulkar. They are prepared to spend any amount of money and time to make their wards national players,” Chopra and M.P. Singh say.

And what is so special about this centre that others lack ? “Well, besides, batting and bowling, special emphasis is laid on fielding and physical exercises at our centre. With SAI taking utmost care, the ground is perfectly maintained to give the best facilities to the trainees here,” the coaches say.

No wonder, almost all international teams on their visit to the Capital prefer to have their training sessions at the National Stadium. From Sachin Tendulkar to Mark Taylor and from Brian Lara to Rameez Raja everyone has praised the stadium facilities.

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And with each victory achieved by the Indian team, the number of trainees that turn up at the centre increases. “Our job is only to give the right guidance to excel. It is for the boys to work towards the goal,” say the coaches.

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