Jamshedpur: The athletics fraternity of Jamshedpur paid rich tributes to two legendary coaches, Syed Wasim Ahmed Naqvi and B.D. Sharma, whose contributions shaped generations of athletes in undivided Bihar and Jharkhand. A condolence meeting was held on Sunday morning at Sumant Moolgaokar Stadium, Telco, where hundreds of sports lovers, former athletes, trainees, and admirers gathered to remember the stalwarts.
Syed Wasim Ahmed Naqvi, a renowned athletics coach from 1971 to 2005, passed away two days ago in Dallas, USA, at the age of over 90 after a prolonged illness. Another eminent coach and international athlete, B.D. Sharma of Telco, died two months ago in Meerut following a long illness. Both coaches played a key role in producing several national and international athletes from Jamshedpur.
Floral tributes were offered to their photographs, and homage was also paid to late Vivekananda Pathak, a former high jumper and disciple of Naqvi. International pole vaulter Gurdev Singh and other speakers said the passing of the two great coaches marked the end of an era in Indian athletics.
