Piyush Jain: The man who helped the country’s physical education teachers revive their identity!
Sudeep Pakrashi: Dr. Piyush Jain, an alumnus of the renowned Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education, Gwalior, was probably the first man in India who noticed how Physical Education (PE) teachers across the country were being deprived of their deserving identity. As its reflection, he thought of such an organization which could raise voice against the deprivation of physical education teachers, and the Physical Education Foundation of India (PEFI) was formed in 2008. The organization has constantly been in the process of raising voice in favor of the rights and establishment of PE teachers’ identity, extending the span of their activities to 29 states, while more than 80 thousand members, including several Arjuna Awardees, Dronacharya Awardees, have built up the strength of the organization. As a reflection of their constant activities, PEFI reached a milestone last year, being one of the country’s rare sports organizations to have been awarded the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar. Piyush Jain, the founder and national secretary of PEFI, revealed while speaking to Parallel Sports over the phone from New Delhi, “I noticed that the PE teachers were highly neglected. They were deprived of their deserving identity. The people, even specialists in other subjects, were being appointed as PE teachers in several schools. Then I felt there should be an organization that could raise voice for the respect and status PE teachers deserve, and PEFI was formed.” Dr. Jain still feels the organization, while making several discussions with the government and other administrative bodies, relishes the most memorable move when CBSE was forced to change their decision of appointing any teacher as a PE teacher following their movement against the board. “CBSE once decided that teachers, even specialists in other subjects, could be appointed as the PE teachers in the CBSE-affiliated schools. We started movement against the decision, and finally, the board was forced to change their decision,” revealed Dr. Jain. PEFI conducts several constructive activities throughout the year across the country. According to Dr. Jain, who is also a governing body member of the Sports Authority of India (SAI), PEFI liaises with the SAI and the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports regarding the importance of physical education specialists. Simultaneously, PEFI endeavors a constant process of knowledge-gaining programs with the country’s PE teachers. “PE teachers have a problem that after acquiring their degrees, they generally do not update their knowledge, which is mandatory. Considering the scouting of talents and nurturing programs in all sports disciplines, one physical education teacher is the first person who can do the job. In that case, the PE teachers must have to update their knowledge. PEFI conducts the workshops and seminars across its 29 states throughout the year,” claimed Dr. Jain. PEFI has even started organizing an annual award-ceremony program for the PE teachers. The best performer from a school is given the award. Additionally, PEFI is now associated with the National Anti-Doping Association (NADA), and the organization organizes seminars and workshops with athletes to guide them about the prevention of doping. PEFI has another major contribution to nurturing and providing financial support to the country’s promising 108 athletes. Dr. Jain informed that 50 wrestlers are among those promising athletes. They train at different academies. PEFI chooses the most promising athletes among them and provides financial support for them. Chirag Chhikara is probably the most prominent name among the PEFI-sponsored athletes as he has recently become the Champion in Under- 23 Wrestling World Championship. Five more wrestlers are funded by the PEFI who won medals in the Asian Championship.
AIFF promises continuity of ISL despite the uncertainty over MRA renewal
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Saturday said it would take all necessary steps to ensure the continuity of the Indian Super League (ISL), a day after the organizer of the League announced that the 2025–26 season had been placed “on hold” due to unresolved contractual issues. In its first public statement since Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) informed clubs of its decision to suspend planning for the upcoming season, the AIFF urged stakeholders to remain patient while talks over the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) continue. “The AIFF and its stakeholders will take all possible steps and do all things within their power to ensure continuity of the ISL in the best interests of Indian football,” the federation said in a brief statement. “We request the understanding of all stakeholders in the interim.” The MRA between FSDL and AIFF — which underpins the structure, operations, and commercial framework of the ISL — is set to expire on December 8, 2025. The league, typically played between September and April, would be underway by then, with teams and broadcasters requiring long-term clarity to plan logistics and commercial activations. Citing this lack of contractual certainty, FSDL earlier this week conveyed to ISL clubs that it was “not in a position to proceed with the 2025–26 ISL season” and would “place it on hold until further clarity emerges.” The situation has triggered concern across the Indian football ecosystem, especially with the ISL being the country’s top-tier league and a crucial platform for clubs, players, and sponsors. During a Supreme Court hearing on April 26, 2025, the AIFF was advised by its legal counsel that the court had made an observation that the MRA should not be renewed until further orders. As a result, the federation said, all discussions on the agreement’s extension have been kept in abeyance pending further directions from the Supreme Court of India.
Enrique rubbishes notions and says Sunday’s final will be a die-hard battle
Luis Enrique, PSG’s coach, rubbished all notions of an easy final against Chelsea in the Club Football World Cup. “Anyone who thinks this match will be a formality doesn’t know anything about football. I’ve analyzed this Chelsea team; they won the Conference League. I really like Enzo Maresca; he likes to come from behind, press, attack; they’re a very complete team. It’s not going to be easy. We’re going to approach this match giving 100%. It’s important to be aware of how difficult the match will be. I like the way they play. There are a lot of individuals, but when they have to defend, they know how to apply pressure. I think it will be a close match. Physically, they are very strong too. We are similar teams in the main aspects of the game. We are ready, they are ready. They won the Conference League, we won the Champions League,” Enrique said a day before the final. This is a PSG team without the big names like Messi and co, and the coach was asked whether it’s a coincidence that they won the Champions League without big stars. “A team of 11 stars, that’s football. That’s what we’re lucky to have now. Or rather 12, 13, 14, 15… It’s a commitment we made with the president [Nasser al-Khelaïfi], the sporting management, and me. The real star is the team, a team in which the supporters identify. Since my first day in Paris, that’s something we’ve achieved. We’re going to lose at one point or another, but the path is clear for us,” Enrique said. Subsequently, he was asked the thought that’s circulating in many a fan’s mind: would he agree that he, Enrique, is the real star of PSG? “Star, absolutely not. I didn’t want to be a star as a player, and I’m not a star as a coach. I do my job. I almost feel more comfortable when things aren’t going well. It’s great when things are going well; we make people happy. I know that a coach is good or bad depending on the results; that’s the rule of the game. I accept that I’ve been heavily criticized, but criticism motivates me more than praise. Is this my best season as a coach? Maybe, but for that, we’ll have to win tomorrow. The most important thing is to finish this match giving 100%.”
Matured Bumrah prefers a muted celebration rather than jumping around!
The third Test between India and England, played at Lord’s in London, is in balance thanks to Jasprit Bumrah’s five-wicket haul in the first innings, which helped India bundle out England for 387. This was Bumrah’s 15th Test five-wicket haul and, in the process, got his name on the Lord’s Honours Board for the first time in his career. His 5/74 in 27 overs included five maidens, and he broke Kapil Dev’s (12) record for most five-fors by an Indian in overseas Tests with his 13th five-wicket haul away from home. When Mohammed Siraj passed on the ball to Bumrah to celebrate his milestone, the Indian ace pacer had a muted celebration, which led to speculations about him being unhappy with the proceedings. Clearing all the air, Bumrah said he was too ‘tired’ to celebrate. “The reality is that I was tired. There was no happiness factor missing. I bowled for a long time, and sometimes I get tired,” said a satisfied Bumrah with a smile during the press conference after the end of Day 2. “I’m not 21-22 anymore to jump around for celebration! I was happy I contributed—other than that, I just wanted to get back to my mark and bowl the next ball,” he added. Bumrah could only manage to pick just a solitary wicket of Harry Brook on the first day, but ended up taking four big scalps on the following day. When asked what adjustments he had made, Bumrah said, “There were not many technical changes that I made from yesterday (Day 1). The wicket was a little on the slower side, and sometimes the edges don’t carry, but we always knew that with the heat going on, when the wicket gets softer, it will get faster. It did quicken up a little bit,” he said. “Nothing massively that I changed. Obviously, you want to hit the top of the off-stump in Test cricket, the rule doesn’t change. You try to swing the ball and nip it. That’s common,” added Bumrah.
