H.N. Girisha, the high jumper who secured a silver medal in London Paralympics in 2012, has thanked the Sports Authority of India (SAI) for its offer to be a coach with the organisation.
Mr. Girisha, who hails from Hosanagar in Arkalgud, said he would reply to the offer soon. The 26-year-old, who is preparing for the World Championship to be held in Qatar in October, told The Hindu on Saturday over phone from Bengaluru that he was expecting this offer as he had recently met SAI officers. The offer letter reached him on Friday.
SAI has offered him the post of a coach with the pay scale of Rs. 15,600–Rs. 39,100. Soon after he won the medal in London, both the Centre and State governments offered him jobs.
However, he could get an offer letter only after three years. During this period he was honoured with Arjuna Award and Padma Shri.
“For the first time SAI has offered a job for a paralympian.
This is a good opportunity for an athlete like me who still has stamina and interest to take part in sports meets. Since I am a medallist, I will have opportunities to participate in events as long as I can. I am now preparing for coming up events. My aim is to secure gold in the 2016 Rio Paralympics,” he said.
The paralympian has been offered the job of coach at SAI
