NEW DELHI: One of India's most decorated para coaches and five-time Paralympian, Farman Basha, whose indomitable spirit was hailed by none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his interaction with the contingent members upon their return from the Tokyo Paralympics, has threatened to return his government awards and honours, including the Arjuna he was conferred with in 2007, over the Sports Authority of India's (SAI) refusal to renew his coaching contact, citing the recruitment rules (RRs) of 'Coach Cadre'.
Basha, a veteran para powerlifter, who recently returned with six individual medals - including four silver - in both the Masters and Open categories at the Asia-Oceania World Para Powerlifting Championships in South Korea's Pyeongtaek, has knocked on the doors of the PM's office (PMO) with his plea to direct SAI to grant him contract extension so that "I can continue training my athletes to win medals for India''. Basha, a three-time Para Asian Games medallist (2010, '14 & '18) and an Arjuna and Ekalavya awardee (2008), is the only para powerlifting coach on contract associated with the SAI since August 31, 2015 at its National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) in Bengaluru.
