Rifle coach Deepali Deshpande has sparked a debate over the process of applying for the Dronacharya Award, voicing her strong disapproval of the system that requires coaches and athletes to actively apply for national sports awards. Deepali, who has been a mentor to several successful shooters, including Swapnil Kushale, questioned the fairness and integrity of a system that forces deserving candidates to push for recognition.
Her comments came after the revelation that renowned cricketer Rahul Dravid might not have been recognized for the prestigious Dronacharya Award despite his extensive contribution to Indian cricket, particularly in mentoring junior cricketers. Deepali expressed her shock, noting that winning a single ICC World Cup doesn’t fully capture the depth of Dravid’s impact on the sport, particularly in terms of his long-term mentoring role. She believes that coaches like Dravid, who work behind the scenes to nurture the next generation of talent, should automatically be considered for such awards based on their ongoing contributions, without the need to apply for them.
Turning her attention to her own situation, Deepali emphasized that the concept of “personal coach” or “private coach” is misleading and undermines the collective spirit of sports coaching. According to her, all coaches work for the nation, and their contributions go far beyond personal relationships with athletes. She shared an emotional moment when Swapnil Kushale, one of her star pupils, won a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Swapnil referred to Deepali as his "second mother," a title she holds dear as a testament to the respect and bond they share. She believes that such endorsements from athletes are the real awards for coaches, and the need to apply for formal recognition only diminishes their value.
Deepali also pointed out the discrepancies in the process for awarding coaches. She noted that the Dronacharya Award, as a national honor, should reflect the long-term contributions of coaches to the development of athletes, not a process driven by individual applications. She believes that the requirement for coaches to ask their trainees for affidavits and attestations on stamped paper is absurd and disrespectful. This practice, she argued, undermines the true role of a coach, who should not be asked to prove their worth in such a transactional manner.
Her frustration is compounded by the fact that many coaches, including those of famous cricketers like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, have to canvass for support from their star athletes in order to be considered for the award. Deepali argued that this further perpetuates a flawed system that relies on individual athletes’ endorsements rather than acknowledging a coach’s comprehensive, long-term contributions to the sport. She cited instances where multiple coaches have received the Dronacharya Award based on their athletes’ Olympic successes, highlighting the system’s inconsistency and the undue emphasis placed on visible achievements rather than a coach's complete body of work.
She also reflected on the lack of transparency in the awards system, mentioning that many coaches and athletes have been misusing the process to gain recognition. The situation, according to Deepali, has led to an environment where deserving individuals like herself are overlooked while others gain recognition through networking and influence rather than merit.
For Deepali, the core issue lies in the systemic flaws that force coaches and athletes to apply for recognition rather than having their contributions automatically acknowledged. Her stance on the matter is rooted in her deep commitment to the nation and her athletes. As a coach who has spent decades nurturing young talent, Deepali feels that her work, as well as the work of other coaches, should be honored based on its merit and impact on the sport, not because of a bureaucratic system that treats them as individuals seeking validation.
In closing, Deepali reiterated that the national sports awards, particularly the Dronacharya Award, should be a matter of national recognition and respect for the hard work and dedication shown by coaches over the years. She criticized the current system for turning a process meant to honor coaches into one that humiliates them and undermines their professional standing. According to Deepali, every coach, including herself, works for the greater good of the country, and their efforts should be recognized without having to prove their worth through applications or affidavits.
Her candid comments have opened up a broader conversation about how India’s national sports awards system can be reformed to better reflect the contributions of both athletes and coaches. As the debate continues, it remains clear that Deepali Deshpande’s words have struck a chord with many in the sports community, and her call for a more inclusive and respectful process for recognizing coaches is one that is unlikely to be ignored.
