CALCUTTA (India): Manmeet Singh Goindi, who retired as Director at Sports Authority of India (SAI) Eastern Region Centre on Saturday, could be credited with transforming the centre into one of the best in the country.
“I worked for 30 years at SAI. I gained rich and varied experience. I left the office with honour and dignity intact. I thank everyone for their support,” Manmeet told Khelupdates.
In India’s sports administration, positive news in the officialdom is rare.
But Manmeet, a strict disciplinarian and tough task master, maximized the effort to introduce professionalism and work culture.
Training centre gets security cover
“SAI Centre is a government property, and it needed to be protected. If there’s any achievement I could do as the centre head here was to enhance the security system, ” said Manmeet, who joined the SAI Eastern Centre in April, 2015.
Soon after his appointment, he ensured the training centre got a security cover.
“I tried my level best to improve the infrastructure, but the first thing that I did was to raise the boundary wall of the campus with a proper fencing to ensure safety and security to the trainees, officials and coaches,” he added.
“When I joined the Eastern Centre I found the security guards weren’t even aware of the fire-fighting system.”
In other infrastructural developments during his tenure, a new hockey synthetic turf (blue colour) replaced the old and tattered one at the centre.
The blue athletic track was the latest as per as the IAAF rules besides the indoor synthetic floor was laid out.
But Manmeet added that not having qualified and professional coaches is one of the major problems he faced at SAI.
“We need proactive coaches. Most coaches do a government job. They come and take salaries. This is not what SAI is looking at,” he explained.
Manmeet had earlier stints at Tughlakabad, Bangalore, Patiala. Orissa in different capacities.
He has managed multiple departments including Teams, Personnel & Coaching, Equipment Divisions besides the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range at Tughlakabad near Delhi.
“We never had training centre in Bhubaneswar. In 2016, we identified KIIT University where we’ve 35 tribal children. It’s one of my major achievements as SAI head,” added Manmeet, who joined SAI in June, 1989.
Dear Mr Singh
Here is Gopinath Ghosh of Hockey.I have come to know that you have retired as Director Sports SAI wef 1st Dec 2019.
I found you to be a tough task master to get your job done.We in Hockey are grateful for the turf and all the co operation extended to BHA through good office of Ishtiak Ali.
I am sure a dynamic person like you will not sit idle. I earnestly wish you happy and prosperous life
With Best wishes
Gopinath Ghosh
Dear Mr Gopinath Ghosh, many sincere thanks for your kind words. I had a wonderful experience in SAI Eastern Region in Kolkata with tenure of 4.7 yrs wherein the existing sports infrastructures were renovated or upgraded for usage by Sportspersons in their endeavors to achieve excellence- and that is only possible with discipline & proper systems. I m happy I was able to get latest blue coloured Hockey Astro turf in SAi , which is the only one turf in whole of Bengal. Hope it is put to optimum use so Hockey in Bengal comes up yet again & refresh memories of golden days of Leslie Claudius, Gurbux Singh et al. Well, I would certainly like to keep self busy & put to use my 31 yrs experience in sports administration & management-as sitting idle, I will rust & age faster. I would be too happy if I get appropriate opportunity in Sports in West Bengal as talent is available in abundance-only proper path need to be shown with the help of qualified Coaches. SAI facilities are for Sportspersons to use , and make name & fame for self & India too as apart for West Bengal.