FIH zeroes in on 7 names to coach India
With a view to helping India restore some of the lost pride, the apex body has suggested seven names who could coach India to a better tomorrow, reports Abhijeet Kulkarni.
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has blamed the flawed system for India's deteriorating performance on the international stage. With a view to helping India restore some of the lost pride, the apex body has suggested seven names who could coach India to a better tomorrow.

FIH Coaching Development Committee chief Tayyab Ikram handed over the list containing seven names to Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi, who is also the head of the ad-hoc committee currently running the show, during the meeting, also attended by FIH president Els van Breda Vriesman, here on Tuesday.
Ikram said the FIH endorsed the ad-hoc committee’s view that a foreign coach was needed for the structural development of a coaching system in India. “India still has the most skillful players, but in modern hockey, the right system is very important to get results. We don’t see that happening in India and are happy that the ad-hoc committee wants us to help on that front,” he added but declined to divulge the names of the coaches.
The ad-hoc committee would now consult the government and speak to the people concerned before finalising the name.
However, Kalmadi was not willing to give a time frame to appoint the new coach, but assured it would be done at the earliest.
The IOA president also announced a programme of tournaments for junior and senior teams. The junior team would be playing a five test series in Pakistan in November before flying off to Argentina for a bilateral series next month and a four-nation tournament in January.
The senior team would also be playing a three-test series against Pakistan in January, followed by a four team competition in India and test series against New Zealand and England thereafter.
Special body for 2010 world cup
FIH president also announced that a special legal entity would be formed to raise funds and manage the 2010 World Cup to be held in New Delhi.
“The modalities are being worked out we will have the body in place by the end of the year,” she said.