IWHF, Kaushik fail to connect

With crucial trip coming up, women’s hockey finds itself with no full-time coach

The Indian Women’s Hockey Federation (IWHF) is in a fix. Their Asian Games bronze winning squad suddenly finds itself without a full-time coach.

“Maharaj Kishen Kaushik was our coach till last year, till the Asian games that is. And we never told him to leave. In fact, we were very interested in re-hiring him. However, we have not gotten any confirmation from the coach,” said IWHF secretary Amrit Bose.

Bose claims that Kaushik has certain responsibilities towards his employers and has not been able to get leave to coach the team and has hence

not taken up our on their offer.

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When contacted Kaushik confirmed that he is not the coach for the senior national women’s team and that he cannot continue as he has certain duties towards his job.

“I am employed by the Haryana State Government and I have to report to work almost every day. I understand that the federation considers me as its coach, but I just don’t have the time,” said Olympian Kaushik while talking to The Indian Express.

Kaushik had held a 10-day training camp with the senior probables in Bangalore in May and June. The team was preparing for its tour of Japan in June, where they were to play four Test matches against the hosts. However, surprisingly Kaushik did not accompany the team to Japan. It was, in fact, assistant coach N S Saini who had accompanied the team in Japan.

The federation in a release had claimed that Kaushik was the chief coach of the team and that he would go along with the team to Japan. “It was the same problem then, he could not go with the team as he could not get leave from his employers. We had stated his name as we thought he would accompany the team but he had to pull out the very last minute,” Bose stated.

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When asked Kaushik stated that: “I was asked by the federation to coach the team for the camp which I gladly did. I did not go with the team because I did not feel that I had contributed towards it. I was not there for the selection or for the planning of the team. The federation did all that. So how can I be coach? For that you need a man who is involved full time with the team.”

The question in the middle is whether it really is Kaushik’s commitment to his job, or a somewhat nonchalant attitude of the federation that has created this impasse. Either way, women’s hockey has been the loser.

Bose claims that they are awaiting Kaushik’s confirmation in a day or two.

Till such time the responsibility will rest on four-five coaches already with the team that is fully focused on qualifying for the Beijing Olympics. This task will look more daunting without the expertise of a full-time coach.

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“The team is to play in Hong Kong next month for the 6th Asia Cup and we are completely focused in winning that meet,” said Bose.

Raghunath back among probables

NEW DELHI: Defender and V Raghunath has been named in the 36 probables for the men’s Asia Cup that is to be held in Chennai from September 1 to 9. Raghunath, who had participated last in the Azlan Shah tournament in March, was suddenly sidelined after the return of Sandeep Singh.

However, with the team still having problems in their penalty corner conversions it seems that the federation now would want to have more options open to them with another drag flicker in the side, as well as a good defender.

Also, seeing a return into the list are veteran centre-halves Ignace Tirkey, who was out due to injury, and Vikram Pillay.

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Others also included are Hari Prasad, V Raja and Bruno Logun.

Veterans Gagan Ajit Singh and Viren Rashquina, who were in the camp for the Champions Challenge in Boom, have been ignored this time. Mid fielder Sunil Yadav who played in Boom was dropped as well.

The camp will be held at SAI Centre Bangalore from July 15 to August 14.