BENGALURU: What makes Bengaluru a swimmer’s paradise? The answer: Coaches. They play a crucial role in shaping a sportsperson’s career and success. However, it becomes tougher for a coach in countries like India, where sport is not always considered the first career option.
National swimming coach S Pradeep Kumar always had the desire to be a coach. And there can be no doubt that he has made a difference in the swimming scene in India, and Bengaluru in particular.
“I always wanted to be a coach, even during my swimming career and when I was about 15. It intensified when I was in college,” he said. “To be the National coach is a lot of responsibility. It is really tough and more than a full-time job. It is challenging but I am enjoying it.”
Pradeep Kumar has been in the Bengaluru coaching scene for 29 years now. Being in charge at the Basavanagudi Aquatic Centre (BAC), he and the team have produced Olympians in Nisha Millet and Rehan Poncha among the dozens of other top National-level swimmers. The club system that began with the BAC and the support of Karnataka Swimming Association president Neelakanta Rao Jagdale has made Bengaluru arguably the best place in India for swimming.
“I have received a lot of support from swimmers, parents, BAC etc.. Jagdale has been supportive and working with him and BAC says it all. It can’t really be explained,” he said.
The nature of his job is such that precious family time is lost to an extent. “There have been compromises on the family front. But compared to what the swimmers do, what a coach does is nothing. We may lose a little sleep or not be able to take care of the family very well. It is part of the profession. But you get pumped up with a good performance from the swimmers,” he explained.
“My wife works too and it is difficult to spend time together. My wife was not a sportsperson and she did not know what was going on. When my son started swimming, she began bringing him to the pool and began to understand what coaching is all about. For that matter, I have been unable to pay a lot of attention to my son.”
Pradeep Kumar was conferred with the Dronacharya Award. “Honestly, I never worked for it. The award was not even instituted when I started coaching and it has never been the reason for us to work. But yes, there is recognition now from the central government,” he stated.
He has a bit of advice for aspiring coaches. “You should be ready to take up challenges. It is not smooth but it can be enjoyable. When children start performing well, it gives you satisfaction but there will be disappointments too,” he says, while adding that swimmers too should work hard without thinking about medals.
From a simple village boy from Kerala to being the coach of the National team, Pradeep Kumar has indeed come a long way. What distinguishes him is the unstinted will to keep working without expecting rewards.
