Old hands learn new skills

While Bangar and Chopra are still keen to prolong their domestic career and may take sometime before switching to coaching,the now retired former India fast bowler,Harvinder,has already begun work in his new avatar. Already in charge of the conditioning camp for Punjab Ranji’s team currently on in Mohali,he will also supervise the U-22 aspirants from June 26.

“I’m into coaching full time now,” Singh told Sportline on Tuesday.

“Never thought coaching would be this hard. Apart from different drills for specialists in the team,I am also required to deal with the young lot and mentor them. Playing was much easier,” he added.

Eye opener
The 32-year-old said the course was an eye opener for him. “As a former fast bowler I could be of great help to the bowlers and was happy pass on my experience to them. But I am no authority on batting and had no idea about fielding drills. Coaching isn’t only about one aspect of the game and the course gave me an opportunity to learn about the basics of other aspects as well.”

While asserting that the new foray doesn’t mean an end to their playing days anytime soon,both Chopra and Bangar,took the course,as it was being held during the off-season.

“I’ll keep on playing but don’t know for how long. This course was timed in a such a way that it was the off-season,so I opted for it. It’s a good thing to have on the CV,” the 37-year-old Bangar said.

Looking forward the Railways mainstay said it was only a start in his new phase and that the crash course was very handy in understanding the nuances of coaching.

“The idea is to communicate in a manner in which a junior player can understand you. There’s no point in having the knowledge of the game and you’re unable to put your point across.

“It’s a longish process. There are certain criterea that one needs to make like 100 days of documented coaching to make it to level B. And the entire process of going to the highest level may take an individual a good of two and a half years or may be more,” Bangar added.

Currently holidaying in the Netherlands,Chopra had similar thoughts. “I signed up for the course for my future. These courses were never scheduled in the off-season. But this time we had time so I went with it,” Chopra said.

Pressed further about prospect of calling time on his career,the 32-year-old Delhi opener added: “I’ll continue playing. The certificate is for the future.”