Jothikumaran ruining Indian hockey: Rajinder

Alleging that IHF secretary K Jothikumaran was acting like a 'dictator' and responsible for ruining the Indian hockey, former coach Rajinder Singh Junior said that this was reason which forced him to resign.

Alleging that Indian Hockey Federation secretary K Jothikumaran was acting like a 'dictator' and responsible for ruining the Indian hockey, former coach Rajinder Singh Junior on Tuesday said that this was reason which forced him to resign.

HT Image

While rejecting media reports that he was sacked, Rajinder said he preferred to resign as it was not possible for him in the prevailing environment.

"Jothikumaran is running the IHF as a dictator and even players were not being selected on the basis of their performance but only on his wish," Rajinder told PTI, while alleging that even Jothikumaran wanted to change the team while the Commonwealth Games were on to which he opposed and earned his irk.

"How the coach could be held responsible for the poor performance of the team, when he was not having any say in the team selection?" Rajinder said.

"During the Premier Hockey League also I resigned due to the dictatorial behaviour of Jothikumaran, but only after the persuation by IHF president KPS Gill, I had withdrawn my resignation," he said, adding that after coming from Melbourne it was not tolerable for me to continue in the prevailing circumstances.

While the coach was always blamed for the poor performance of team, persons who are more responsible for the debacle enjoy the power, he rued.