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Vashi2Panvel.Com: Navi Mumbai: July 25: "A healthy mind lives in a healthy body." And, Mr. Ravindran Nair, Sports Co-ordinator of Fr. Agnel Technical complex Vashi, Navi Mumbai, is more particular about this. His players are shining as brilliant stars on the national and international skies. He is a dedicated basketball expert coach who gave coaching to Bombay University three times and Maharashtra State team about 12 times. He was associated two times as coach with the national level coaching camp. He accompanied Indian basketball team as assistant coach at Kuwait. He was a qualified A-class referee with federation of basketball. He has been the District Secretary of Thane District Basket Ball Association for last 22 years. Vashi2Panvel.Com took an exclusive interview of this basketball worm to get an insight of his expertise. Excerpts of the interview:
V2P: Since how long you are in this Complex and what are the sports activities you are conducting here.
I Joined Fr. Agnel Technical complex in 1986 as Sports Co-ordinator, which includes a Multipurpose School, a Junior College, a Polytechnic and an Engineering College. We are giving coaching to student players of this complex in basketball, football, volleyball, chess, table tennis, badminton, swimming, hockey etc. For every game there is a junior coach (except basketball) and I am co-ordinating all games.

V2P: What are your major achievements and what is your next target?
In 1990-91, we won the first major title of Maharashtra School Championship in Basketball in the category of boys under 19. In 2002-03 and 2004-05 also we received similar titles with our boys under 14 and under 19 categories respectively. In 2005-06 we earned two such state titles with our boys under 17 and under 19, which is a state record. Now I am very hopefully looking for 2006-07 state championship title under 19, and after wining it, we will do a hat trick in this category, which will be a matter of great honour and pride to our complex. I have to put my all experience of 25 years to retain this state championship title.

V2P: Your star students who have fared well nationally and internationally?
These students have earned great name for our complex as well as for Navi Mumbai:

Basketball:
KB Binoy, Shardul Anap, Adarsh Saxena (internationally)

Swimming:
Lekha Kamath, Surbhi Tipre (played nationally, to go internationally)

Table Tennis:
Chaitanya Udare, Nachiket Galande, Sarang Bhave (all internationally)

Chess:
Utkarsh Gupta, Saba Mhate, Ashwin Ganpath, Saheli Dolas, Trichi Chawla (all internationally)

V2P: Who amongst your current students do you see as future stars.
There are some good number of students who can also make wonders in future:

Junior College: Kaustubh Shetey, Suraj Sujstan,Suraj Ugrani
IX Std:Titus Anrade, Akshay Perkey, Alex Joseph

V2P: What is the role of a school/college/ in grooming star students?
In addition to main sports the institute must give importance to the general fitness of players giving physical training simultaneously. The star players should be taken to those tournaments as audience also, where they can watch carefully each and every movements of their opponent players, which will be of great use when they play with them directly.

V2P: Individually can you recall anecdotes of how they showed brightness when you worked with them.
Yes, I observed the fighting skill like born talents in KB Binoy and Adarsh Saxena and looked great possibilities in them, and they really proved the way, I dreamed out.

V2P: What according to you are the qualities of a good coach?
A good coach may not be a good player, however he should have full grip on the game techniques and his players' total background. He should be able to nurture the maximum potential of players. He should be conversant with each and every movement of his players as well as opponent players. Keeping all this factors in mind he should have a psychological approach to his players to motivate them for success. He should have proper observation skill with precise instructions to be given person-to-person taking a feedback from each.

V2P: Do you feel that if you had a better coach yourself you could have been a better player?
Yes, during our time facilities were not that much, compared to what our players have today, even our coach were not well equipped what we have today. With that probably I would have also received some national or international titles. However, I am happy that inspite of all odds during our time, now I am able to coach and produce players who are shining at national and international levels.

V2P: Do you think Indian sports suffer because of lack of financing for their sports persons who may come from middle class homes are not able to provide finance for special training via specialized coaches, fitness centers, food, protein supplements?
Basically I don't agree with this philosophy. A good player normally never faces this. There are several organisations, which financially support talents. The interest and dedication, by the head of institution is of prime importance. If there is will, way will be there.

V2P: What are your future plans?
I am dreaming for a wooden indoor basketball court at Fr. Agnel Technical Complex where I can organise an international championship event. I am very hopeful to achieve this too, like my other previous goals.

Umesh Malviya