Sport - Hockey

Kaushik may remain women’s coach

NEW DELHI: M.K. Kaushik may, after all, remain the chief coach of the Indian women’s hockey team.

With the Indian Women’s Hockey Federation (IWHF) claiming on Saturday that Kaushik remained its coach, there was much confusion as to whether his appointment as the men’s team’s National coach will eventually materialise.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) ad hoc committee had nominated Kaushik as the National coach for the men’s team just four days ago.

Kaushik was not available for his reaction to the claim made by the IWHF that he had agreed to continue as the women’s hockey coach.

“Kaushik will continue with women’s hockey,” said M.P. Ganesh, treasurer and technical director of the IWHF, who had talked to the coach to clear the air about the latter’s position.

Kaushik is expected to take over his new responsibility as a coach on deputation to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) on Monday.

“We paved the way for his deputation to SAI after it was found that he was not able to get leave from the Haryana Sports Department to fulfil his commitments as our chief coach,” said the IWHF Secretary, Mrs. Amrit Bose.

Ganesh, an Olympian and a former National coach of the men’s team, pointed out that Kaushik’s appointment as the chief coach of the women’s team was done through proper procedure as laid down by the Union Government guidelines while there was no government approval for his so-called appointment as the men’s coach.

His appointment in women’s hockey was expected to last till the 2010 Asian Games, according to Mrs. Bose.

Meanwhile, the IWHF discussed ‘merger plans’ with men’s hockey at its annual general meeting on Saturday. The International Hockey Federation (FIH) had suggested granting recognition to a new body named Hockey India that would comprise the men and women’s federations.

The modalities of such a merger were discussed at the meeting, Mrs. Bose said.

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