The Hindu : Sport / Hockey : Charlesworth not interested in limited role

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Tuesday, Mar 18, 2008
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Charlesworth not interested in limited role

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Australian coach Ric Charlesworth made it clear on Monday that he was not interested in performing a limited role in Indian hockey.

Summoned by the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) following the furore over the Indian team’s failure to qualify for the Olympics, Charlesworth arrived here on Monday only to be confronted by the intrigues of the federation.

The IHF President, K.P.S. Gill, who is also the Chairman of the Indian Hockey Confederation (IHC), met officials of the Union Sports Ministry and conveyed that Charlesworth would be associated only with the junior men’s team and women’s hockey.

‘Not part of the deal’

By late evening, however, Charlesworth responded to queries from the media with a firm “no” to the suggestion emanating from the IHF and IHC that he could be entrusted with a role that might keep him away from the senior men’s team completely. “This is not part of the deal; things don’t work this way,” said the Australian legend. “I have not come for this,” he added.

The already messy hockey scenario seemed to be headed for further complications as the IHF went through the motions of damage control without being able to define Charlesworth’s role.

Ministry’s concern

At the meeting with IHF on Monday, the Ministry officials not only expressed concern at India’s failure to qualify for the Olympics but also assured that steps would be taken to prevent the players from being demoralised.

On the World Cup to be staged here in 2010, the Ministry officials said efforts would be made towards the conduct of the event in Delhi as scheduled.

Ministry sources said Charlesworth’s role was to be determined by the IHF and even prior to Santiago, the federation had envisaged no role for him directly with the men’s hockey team.

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