The first meeting of the newly formed WaveGuard Swim Club was held on 24th September, 2023 at The Mohali Club, Phase 11, Mohali at 11.00am. An open Invite was sent to all the present and past coaches/swimmers for the meeting. This apart, national medalists of 2022-23 were also invited along with their parents and coaches. A list containing the names of attendees is attached at Annexure-I.
At the outset of the meeting, Sh William Jeji welcomed the attendees on behalf of the WaveGuard. Before the start of the proceedings, two-minute silence was observed by all as a mark of respect to S. Sucha Singh Sandhu, Ex- Chief Coach, SAI, Col Amrinder Khatra, Ex Swimmer and Charanpreet Singh, Ex Waterpolo player, who left for their heavenly abode in the recent past.
Sh William Jeji, gave brief introduction about the WaveGuard Swim Club and read out the mission statement of the club i.e to focus on the promotion of Swimming by supporting the swimmers & coaches and to safeguard their interests.
Sh William Jeji then invited Sh Gurcharanjit Singh to initiate and conduct the all-important brainstorming session. Sh Gurcharanjit Singh based on feedback received from various quarters and through his personal experiences during the long coaching career pinpointed following areas where improvement was needed and dedicated efforts were needed to take the Punjab Swimming to the new heights: –
1. Prior and timely information was not being received about District and State level competitions and as a result swimmers and coaches were unable to plan the training load.
2. District level and state level competitions were not being conducted regularly by some district units/state unit at all.
3. No touch pads were available at the swimming pools
4. Swimmers lacked exposure on lanes and adjustable starting blocks
5. Backstroke swimmers needed ledges exposure
6. Coaching camps were utmost important before national level competitions.
7. Refresher courses were needed for the coaches and competition officials to make them aware about latest rules and techniques.
8. Swimmers and coaches needed to be provided updated information about doping
9. Better travel facilities need to provide to swimmers for taking part in national level competitions
10. Provision of coaching camps by foreign coaches, if viable financially.
11. Swimmers need to be provided access to dietitians, physio, strength trainers etc
12. All weather swimming pools need to be constructed and sharing explored.
13. Insurance cover needed for swimmers.
14. Winter coaching camps need to be conducted.
Sh Gurcharanjit Singh then invited feedback and suggestions from the invitees which were as under:
Sh Gurbhagat Singh Sandhu, senior most coach welcomed the formation of WaveGuard. He agreed that there were many areas where swimmers need to be updated. He strongly advocated the holding of clinics and dress code for coaches and officials at the competitions. He also informed that there were many deserving swimmers who needed to be supported financially. He hoped that the WaveGuard would take up with the government authorities at appropriate level for providing more all-weather pools.
Jasjeet Singh informed the house that if the project is right the finance would come automatically. He further informed that an amount of Rs 2.5 lakh each has been contributed by Punjabi Singer Satinder Sartaaj foundation and by himself as seed money initially and hoped to get more through sponsorships.
Sh Paramjit Sachdeva, Ex swimmer thanked Jasjeet Singh and entire WaveGuard team consisting of Gurcharanjit Singh, Ashok Sharma and William Jeji for this initiative and assured full support. He also announced an amount of Rs. 1.00 lakh to the WaveGuard swim club.
Sh Amarjeet Singh Sandhu, Ex Chiefx Coach in SAI opined that district level competitions were must. He also stressed on the need to increase number of competitions. He also quoted the example of Delhi where no. of competitions was much more than us. He pointed out that the contractual coaches were being paid meagre salary which need to be enhanced. He also cautioned that under no circumstances a coach should prescribe any medicine to the swimmers. Instead, the swimmers may be made aware about bad effects of doping.
Sh Surjit Singh, Ex Deputy Director, Punjab sports department thanked the WaveGuard for its initiative. He minced no words in pointing out that there were only a few training centres which were running properly. He also informed that sports policy was being changed frequently by the successive governments. In the present set up participation in senior nationals was being ignored for gradation purpose while school nationals were being recognized. He stressed on the need to have more competitions and hoped WaveGuard to conduct one state level competition every year where refresher course for swimmers, coaches and parents may be conducted preferably by some foreign expert. He announced to contribute an amount of Rs 25,000/- towards WaveGuard.
Ms. Sukhwiwnder Khatra, IRS lauded the initiative of WaveGuard team. She stressed on more and more sponsorships through big business houses.
Mr Arora, father of national champion Chahat Arora appreciated the formation of WaveGuard and lauded the coaching services rendered to the swimmers of tri city by Sh Gurcharanjit Singh. He also stressed the need of proper injury management besides addressing issues of all-weather swim pools, travel facilities, accommodation etc, Mr Arora announced to contribute an amount of Rs 1.00 lakh to the WaveGuard.
Jasnoor Kaur, National champion also talked about the lacking facilities. She said the most important thing for swimmers was motivation which she hoped to get through WaveGuard,
Sh Sat Pal, Ex swimmer and Deputy Director, Punjab sports department wanted collective efforts to stop outsiders who mar the chances of local swimmers by taking dummy admissions in college/universities in Punjab.
Sh Manjit Singh Dhall thanked WaveGuard for its initiative. He stressed on mass participation and suggested to divide competitions stroke-wise. He also suggested to hold short coaching camps at the onset of swimming season. Sh Dhall announced to contribute a sum of Rs 31000/- to the WaveGuard.
Sh Gagan Matta, Swimming coach informed that for gradation minimum 8 entries were required. He suggested that where there were less entries, the events may be cancelled. He was of the opinion that stalls of latest equipment/apparatus, advanced gyms etc may be set up for demonstration for young swimmers.
Sh Harman Sandhu, coach pointed out that due to no lower-level competitions, waterpolo in Punjab was almost finished. He pleaded for regular district and state level competitions in water polo.
After exhaustive discussions, the Award ceremony was conducted. An amount of Rs 85900/- was distributed in cash to the WaveGuard Gold and WaveGuard Silver award winner swimmers, Aquatic excellence coach award winner coaches and Eternal Encore lifetime achievement Award winner coaches. Each award carried cash prize, one trophy and a WaveGuard T-shirt. WaveGuard T-shirts were also presented to all the attendees to the meeting followed by a lunch to all. A list of WaveGuard awardees is attached at Annexure 2.
The print and tv media covered the event extensively for which WaveGuard team is thankful to it.