DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS AND YOUTH WELFARE, Government of Assam, in collaboration with the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS), has brought an Olympic-calibre coach education camp to Guwahati, aimed at former competitive athletes transitioning into coaching roles.
According to an official release, the initiative offers advanced international exposure to coaches emerging from Assam’s Small Khelo India Centres. With this step, Assam has become the first state in the country to elevate the program by integrating global high-performance expertise into community and grassroots-level coaching.
The camp features Troy Douglas, a three-time Olympian, World Championships medallist and head coach of IIS Athletics, alongside Klaus Bartonietz, widely regarded as one of the world’s leading high-performance experts. Together, they are equipping Assam’s next generation of coaches with practical, on-field insights, focusing on biomechanics, physics, movement efficiency and the fine technical details that help athletes gain a competitive edge at the highest level.
The program brings together a cohort of former athletes from across the state who are now stepping into coaching pathways. Participants include sprinter Chinmoy Baruah, a Khelo India silver medallist from Majuli Jengraimukh; high jumper Denim Baruah from Sonitpur, a Khelo India Youth Games participant; discus thrower Juganta Changmai of Sivasagar, a junior national bronze medallist; and Mamata Foley from Dibrugarh, a Northeast Games gold medallist.
They are joined by Jitupan Mili, a triple jumper from Lakhimpur and Khelo India participant; Raja Das, a race walker from Hailakandi with junior national medals; and distance runner Khem Bahadur Newar from West Karbi Anglong.
Kausar Jamil Hilaly, IAS, Secretary, Department of Sports, Assam, said, “Small Khelo India is a powerful national framework, and Assam is proud to be the first state to deepen its impact by integrating Olympic-calibre expertise into coach education. By investing in former athletes who are now shaping young talent in their communities, we are strengthening the foundation of our sports ecosystem. This approach places Assam at the forefront of grassroots-to-elite development and aligns strongly with India’s long-term Olympic vision.”
Douglas commented, “What stands out here is the quality of coaches and the experience they already bring from their competitive careers. Our role through this partnership is to add structure, technical clarity, and global best practices to that foundation. When you combine lived competition experience with the right coaching tools and scientific understanding, you create coaches who can genuinely shape the future of athletes in this state and the country.”
