Former India coach sees red after 'interview snub' by YAS Director
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 22 2023:
Former India sepak-takraw coach Anoubam Mahavir Sharma has came out against alleged humiliation by Director of Youth Affairs and Sports after he was denied to face interview for a coach/mentor job.
Speaking to media here at Manipur Press Club, Mahavir who had coached National sepaktakraw team at some major international events, said he was denied to sit in an interview for the job of mentor/coach on the ground that he was overaged for the job.
He said he applied for the post of sepaktakraw mentor/coach after the Directorate of Youth Affairs and Sports issued a notification on January 16 last for the recruitment of coaches/mentors for some sports disciplines.
Eventually, he received a call letter inviting him to sit for the interview but was denied to face the interview on the ground that he was overaged to be a candidate yesterday by the Director who also showed him an order indicating age limit for candidates, he said.
Expressing suspicion of anomalies in the recruitment process, Mahavir questioned as to why he was invited for the interview if he was not eligible for the post.
Inviting ineligible candidates for an interview is absurd, he said.
The act of the Director was an attempt to assassinate his character and belittle him in front of his contemporaries and colleagues, alleged Mahavir who had led Indian team at the 16th Asian Games-2010, 25th King's Cup World Championship-2010 and Asian Sepaktakraw Championship-2016 .
The fate of sports and athletes in Manipur, which is considered as the powerhouse of sports of the country, is uncertain if such unwarranted incidents persist, the resident of Bamon Leikai Mange Makhong, Imphal East continued.