Who was Nikolai Snesarev, India’s Belarusian athletics coach found dead in Patiala

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) on Friday confirmed the death of recently-appointed Belarusian middle and long distance coach Dr Nikolai Snesarev in his hostel room in Patiala. 

“AFI is deeply shocked to learn about the sudden demise of recently appointed middle-long distance coach Dr. Nikolai Snesarev in Patiala- Adille J Sumariwalla, AFI President,” AFI tweeted.

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In another tweet, it was confirmed that he was found dead on his bed in the hostel. He came to India on March 3. 

The SAI had approved Snesarev’s re-appointment as India’s middle and long distance coach on January 15, nearly two years after he had quit the post. 

The 72-year-old was appointed till the end of September, a period which included the Tokyo Olympics.

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He was re-appointed as coach for 3,000 metres steeplechaser Avinash Sable, who has already qualified for the Olympics and other middle and long-distance runners in their qualification bid.

Snesarev had quit as the coach in February 2019 after Sable decided to leave him and train under Army coach Amrish Kumar. His erstwhile contract ran till the end of the delayed Olympic Games. 

“Avinash Sable wants to train with Nikolai again and we hope this will help him in improving further,” AFI president Sumariwalla said in a statement then. 

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Snesarev was associated with Indian athletics ever since his first engagement in 2005. He has coached a number of international medal-winners like Preeja Sreedharan and Kavita Raut. 

He also coached Lalita Babar, who finished in the top 10 in steeplechase at the 2016 Olympics and has had good results wityh Sudha Singh and Sable.