We don't need a foreign coach at the moment: Dhanraj Choudhary

There is no need for a full-fledged foreign coach at the moment for the Indian team as the players are playing in their respective professional leagues and if they want, we will consider, said Dhanraj Choudhary, Secretary of Table Tennis Federation of India.

Dhanraj Choudhary is the Secretary of Table Tennis Federation of India.

There is no need for a full-fledged foreign coach at the moment for the Indian team as the players are playing in their respective professional leagues and if they want, we will consider, said Dhanraj Choudhary, Secretary of Table Tennis Federation of India, here on Monday, on the sidelines of the Avadh 20th Commonwealth championships scheduled to be held here from December 16 to 21.

“We would have to pay around 7000$ per month if we appoint a foreign coach and if the players are not staying in one place, there is no point in having one,” said Dhanraj.

But Dhanraj said TTFI is considering having a coach a few months prior to the Rio Olympics, if Indians qualify for the quadrennial event.

“Again it will depend on what the players want. We will, in all probability, pay for the training expenses of those players making the cut for Rio,” he added.

Cyprus was the first to arrive and a few members of the team also visited the stadium. However, the players' skipped the practice session. “The lighting and playing conditions are very good here. We are enjoying the atmosphere,” said Stephanos Gregoriou, the team’s most experienced player.

Four Singapore players arrived on Monday. The Indian squad, however, will arrive here on Tuesday afternoon from Gandhinagar, where they have been training.

Meanwhile, rehearsals by Government High School students were in full swing as they were preparing for the inaugural ceremony of the Commonwealth championships on Tuesday at 4.30 p.m. at the Deendayal Upadhyay Indoor Stadium.