The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has finally realised the importance of scientific training for elite sportspersons. With less than a year to go for the London Olympic Games, SAI has decided to recruit scientific officers to posts, which have been lying vacant for more than 19 years.
SAI has a sanctioned strength of 25 junior scientific officers, but 19 posts are lying vacant. A post each of scientific officer and senior scientific officer too is vacant.The recruitment process will be completed in the next 4-5 months. "It’s a step in the right direction. Because of limited scientific backup, we are unable to provide proper training to our elite athletes," said a senior scientist in SAI.
“No recruitment has taken place in the scientific cadre since 1992. And, in the last 7-8 years, quite a few scientists have resigned or retired. We are happy that SAI is taking this subject seriously,” he added.
There will be two posts of junior scientific officer in the physiology wing; four posts in psychology; two in bio-chemistry; two in food and nutrition; three in bio-mechanics; two in anthropometric measurements, and four in sports medicine. In the scientific assistance department, there will two posts of junior scientific assistants in physiology, two in psychology and one in biomechanics.
{{/usCountry}}There will be two posts of junior scientific officer in the physiology wing; four posts in psychology; two in bio-chemistry; two in food and nutrition; three in bio-mechanics; two in anthropometric measurements, and four in sports medicine. In the scientific assistance department, there will two posts of junior scientific assistants in physiology, two in psychology and one in biomechanics.
{{/usCountry}}“The requirement for the post of junior scientist will be a first-class in a PG degree course, while in sports medicine, we will only consider MBBS and people with diploma in sports medicine,” said another senior SAI official.