Dhawan: When I was in fourth standard, I used to go with my father to Hans Raj College to see and imitate him. Suddenly in 1968, my father, Late Mr. Vasudev died while training students. On that day, I pledged to work as a coach. I worked hard at Rajanara Club for ten years and fortunately at very young age I became captain as well as coach in the same college. Though, my mother didn’t want to see me in sports but I am passionate about sports so put everything else at one side and started working.

Dhawan: See, no one is perfect even I did many wrongdoings but when I started my career as a coach I decided to be honest with myself. I never worked as a professional but worked because I enjoyed a lot as a coach. I have been coaching girls’ hockey team of Delhi University and St. Stephens College. As a coach in 1994, I got an opportunity to represent Indian Team as coach in the World Brench Press Championship held at Jarvenpaa, Finland for which I got Dronacharya Award in 2001. And in my opinion India is still not ready for CWG. It will be better if this money was spent on athletes rather than wasting on renovating capital city and making luxurious stadiums. No athletes feel better to be called themselves a Commonwealth champion because of so many scams.

Jyoti: What do you want to see in your students?

Dhawan: Getting medals is like meeting a god. I train students to be in Gurukul and student here are from poor backgrounds but they have enthusiasm to learn more and they learn to win. I want my students to believe in their coach and I generally see their concentration level. Everyone can’t be

or Sushil Kumar but yes if they work hard with right focus they can easily achieve their goal.

Jyoti: What are the competitive advantages that India has over most of the countries in terms of sports?

Dhawan: I must say, we have lots of advantages, we have diamonds, but as coaches we have to search them. We have good athletes who want to play for our country but they don’t get right opportunity at right time. We can produce many champions but it is unfortunate as coaches we did not reach to them and we are crippled by limited facility available to us.

Jyoti: Do you believe that professional power lifters are moving in the right direction?

Dhawan: This is very unfortunate that athletes have started taking to drugs. Sometimes they compelled me for injections and drugs and they think nothing happened without it. I am against it. I suggest them to work on their instinct and spirit. This happened because of bad eating habits. From very early age the athletes must be educated against taking drugs. There must be seminars held at different places to raise awareness. Every year Sports Authority of India (SAI) publishes a booklet on drugs but it doesn’t cover every type of drugs so this is not sufficient. The SAI provides them a low level supplement which is not sufficient to fulfil their requirements.

Jyoti: Do you think sports have become a commodity nowadays? How much do you support auctioning games like cricket?

Dhawan: We can’t borrow athletes. You see IPL is not at all a great success. Every player of any sport demands concentration and money plays a bad role. Facilities should be provided to promote sports not to live luxurious lives. Our national game is Hockey. Where do you find it, nowhere? It’s ruined now. We have good players but we lack facilities.

Jyoti: How do you manage sports with handicapped athletes? I got to know that you have employed them for your luxurious gym? Why do you think people will listen to them?

Dhawan: One of my handicapped students became a world champion.  He is in 12th standard but deaf and dumb. He brought a gold medal. They are stronger than normal students. They have an extra quality of spirit. As a coach we have to increase their confidence level and to polish them for brighter future. We as coaches have X-ray eyes and we can easily differentiate who is capable and who isn’t. This is true I have employed a handicapped as an instructor and I know that people are going to listen him because he is much capable and hard working.

Jyoti: What is your best advice to get stronger?

Dhawan: You should be strong in your mind first. If your mind is relaxed your body will work automatically. I believe in this phrase “where your mind goes your body follows.”

Jyoti: Any message for your readers?

Dhawan: Don’t waste your time and be sincere about your targets because without setting a target you can’t achieve your goals.