Sport

Qualifying for Olympics will be tough: Charlesworth

— Photo: V. Sudershan

TOUGH TASK: Ric Charlesworth believes Indian hockey has a long road ahead in its struggle to reach its past status.

NEW DELHI: Ric Charlesworth, the legendary player and high-performance coach, said that Indian hockey will have to work overtime to reach the level it once enjoyed.

“The basic flaw in the system that so far I have understood is that India is playing very little international hockey each calendar year,” said Charlesworth, who has been appointed Technical Advisor and Expert Coach for Indian hockey.

“India must play big teams very regularly and instead of 15-17 international matches, they should be playing 30-35 matches,” Charlesworth added, during a free-wheeling interview with the media persons while outlining his vision for Indian hockey at the conclusion of the FIH Executive Board meeting here on Saturday.

His comments are significant in the backdrop that both Indian men and women teams have yet to qualify for the next year’s Olympic Games in Beijing. Indian men will play Olympic qualifier in Chile with England, Egypt, Chile, Australia and Bangladesh as other contenders.

Women travel to Russia and will have to finish ahead of the United States, Netherlands Antilles, Russia, Belgium and Chinese Taipei. “The foremost on the agenda would be to chalk out a plan for the Indian teams ahead of the Olympic qualifiers,” he said. “Qualification for Olympics is a major concern as it is going to be very tough,” Charlesworth warned.

When asked how he would get the men’s and women’s hockey federations together, Charlesworth said he was not here to resolve disputes if any. “I am here on the invitation of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) and my contract is with the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Indian Hockey Confederation (IHC),” he said.

“I am not a Mandrake. He was a magician. I am here to observe things, learn the shortcoming and suggest remedies,” Charlesworth said.

“It is for them (the Indian Hockey Federation and Indian Women’s Hockey Federation) to implement the suggested measures.”

The Australian, who till recently was located in New Zealand as a high performance consultant with the New Zealand Cricket, said he would be back early December to confirm his location in India.

“I am coming here bag and baggage. I have to discuss with my wife, find proper schools for my children,” said Charlesworth, clearly indicating that he intended to stay here for a long period.

Charlesworth said he would initially give one year to himself and see how his presence made the difference. “But I am here on a long term basis as FIH is keen on promoting Indian hockey – not only for the financial consideration but because Indians play exciting hockey,” he said.

When asked what plans he had for the Indian teams, Charlesworth said he would not directly coach the National teams at any level. He said if the coaches want inputs from him “they are welcome, but my scope is to look at the global picture, vis-À-vis India.”

On the selection of Indian teams, he said the process is very critical, but “until I observe it I will not be in a position to comment on it.”

On PHL, Charlesworth said, “it is a good concept, but whether it is the right concept is difficult to say now because it is still in its infancy.”

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