Country first for Baig & Ramesh

Personal issues take a back seat for these dedicated coaches

They have untold stories even as they script the success stories of their trainees. And not all coaches, who untiringly work behind the scenes to mould athletes into lead performers on some of the biggest stages like the Olympics, get their due. Consider two shining examples — chief national rowing coach Ismail Baig and athletics coach N. Ramesh. Not many might be aware that the Guntur-born Baig, who trained the two Olympics-bound rowers Arvind Singh and Arjun Lal Jat (men’s double sculls) at the Army Rowing Node (ARN) in Pune — had to summon all the courage to stay back with the rowers even as his wife tested COVID-19 positive a few weeks ago.