New Delhi: India’s first Dronacharya awardee coach in boxing, OP Bhardwaj, died Friday. OP Bhardwaj breathed his last after battling prolonged illness and age-related issues here. He was 82. Bhardwaj had tragically lost his wife Santosh to ill-health about 10 days ago.
Bhardwaj was bestowed the highest national honour in coaching jointly with Bhalchandra Bhaskar Bhagwat (wrestling) and OM Nambiar (athletics), when it was introduced in 1985.
“He (Bhardwaj) had been unwell for many days with a lot of health issues and was hospitalised. Age was a factor. There was also the shock of losing his wife about 10 days back,” said TL Gupta. He is a close family friend and a former boxing coach.
Bhardwaj was India’s national boxing coach from 1968 to 1989 and also served as a national selector. Under his tutelage, Indian pugilists won medals at the Asian Games, the Commonwealth Games and the South Asian Games. A pioneer in Indian boxing, he was the first chief instructor for the sport at the NIS in Patiala.
“He (Bhardwaj) started his career in the Army School of Physical Training in Pune. Then he became an accomplished coach for Services. In 1975, when NIS came up with the proposal for coaching diplomas, in boxing, Mr Bhardwaj was picked for the course,” Gupta said. “I am proud to say I was among his first students. He was an inspiration,” Gupta added.
In 2008, Bhardwaj had even taught some boxing techniques to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for a couple of months.
Former national coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu was among his first set of students at NIS. He said the man from Chennai was a hands-on instructor.
“I shared a magnificent friendship with Bhardwaj ji. I was his student as well as co-worker after being inducted in the NIS. I saw him lay the foundation for Indian boxing to flourish,” Sandhu, under whose guidance India won their maiden Olympic medal in boxing, said.
“He was always, always there with the boys. He would never stand and instruct. He would run with the boys during training, even long distance runs. It is something I learnt from him, to be completely involved. A vary sad day for Indian boxing,” Sandhu added.
Gupta said Bhardwaj was driven by a desire to make things better for the sport. “He was a dynamic man. I remember, in those days, when there were no computers and hardly anyone knew how to type, he bought a typewriter from a trip to Russia,” informed Gupta.
“He would write letter after letter to authorities demanding better amenities for boxers at NIS using that typewriter. He typed with just one finger because he had no formal training in typing,” Gupta added.