Bhardwaj was India's national boxing coach from 1968 to 1989 and also played his role as a national selector.
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India lost a sporting icon on Friday as the country’s first Dronacharya awardee coach OP Bhardwaj passed away. He was 82 and was battling age-related health issues and a prolonged illness. Bhardwaj tragically lost his wife Santosh just 10 days ago. He was awarded the highest national honour along with Bhalchandra Bhaskar Bhagwat (wrestling) and O M Nambiar (athletics) when it was introduced back in 1985. He was India’s national boxing coach from 1968 to 1989 and also played his role as a national selector. Athletes under his wing managed to bag medals at the Asian Games, the Commonwealth Games, and the South Asian Games.
“He had been unwell for many days with a lot of health issues and was hospitalized. Age was a factor and there was also the shock of losing his wife about 10 days back,” TL Gupta, a close family friend and a former boxing coach himself told news agency PTI.
“He started his career in the Army School of Physical Training in Pune and became an accomplished coach for Services. In 1975, when NIS came up with the proposal for coaching diplomas, in boxing, Mr. Bhardwaj was picked to start the course,” Gupta added. “I am proud to say I was among his first students. He was an inspiration,” he concluded.
Bhardwaj had even taught the basic ins and outs of boxing to political personalities. In 2008, he had taught some boxing techniques to Congress member Rahul Gandhi.
Former national coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu, under whom India won their first Olympic medal in boxing, was also one of his students. “I shared a magnificent friendship with Bhardwaj ji. I was his student as well as co-worker after being inducted into the NIS. I saw him lay the foundation for Indian boxing to flourish,” Sandhu said.
“He was always, always there with the boys. He would never stand and instruct. He would run with the boys during training, even long-distance runs. It is something I learned from him, to be completely involved. A very sad day,” he concluded.
