Dronacharya awardee & athletics coach Joginder Singh Saini passed away at 90 On March 1, 2020 Senior athletics coach & Dronacharya awardee Joginder Singh Saini, who trained some of India’s finest track and field stars, passed away at the age of 90, in Patiala, Punjab, due to age related problems. He served as the chief national athletics coach for many years from the year 1970 to 1990.He was born on January 1, 1930 in Hoshiarpur district in Punjab.
Key Points:
i.About Saini: Saini was a science graduate and became an athletics coach in 1954 and became the chief coach of the Amateur Athletics Federation of India in 1970.
ii.Awards: Saini received the Dronacharya award in 1997 for his contribution to Indian athletics.
iii.He was the chief coach of the Indian athletics team which won 18 medals, including 8 golds, at the 1978 Asian games.
iv.He was also known as ‘Saini Saab’ by the Indian athletics fraternity.