Dronacharya awardee former Indian athletics coach passes away

Joginder Singh Saini, the Dronacharya Award winner and former head coach of the Indian Athletics Team, has died. He was 90 years old. Saini has produced some of India's most prestigious athletes in a coaching career spanning nearly 50 years.

Saini started his career as athletics coach in 1954. Since 1961, he has been a teacher at the National Institute of Sports. In 1970, he was appointed Chief Instructor of the Athletics Federation of India.

Saini continued to coach until 2004. He later joined the athletics team in the role of mentor. Saini was the coach of players including Gurbachan Singh Randhawa. He coached many athletes at the National Camp and the National Sports Institute. In 1997-98, he was awarded the Dronacharya Award.