LAHORE, Dec 28: Punjab Sports Department (PSD) has decided to hire Russian coaches, initially for wrestling and tennis to groom talent at the grassroots level.

Secretary PSD, Rao Iftikhar said at a press conference that negotiations with the coaches were in its final stages and they would be here during the summer vacations. “Summer vacations suit us as the boys are available for these activities and the coaches will hone their skills by teaching them the basic points about the games,” he said. Rao, added that the Russian coaches would not be of first class rating but they would be capable of teaching basic points at the junior level.

He added that in due course he would also engage coaches for other disciplines also.

Asked if the department would be capable of incurring the expenditure of foreign coaches, Rao said sponsors had been involved for that purpose.

He said the Punjab government had also decided to construct cricket grounds in all the nine divisions of the province.