It has been 295 days since India, under Australian Terry Walsh, beat Pakistan in the Asian Games to win gold and become the first nation to seal a place in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
In the nine months since, Walsh has departed after being alleged by Hockey India chief Narinder Batra of financial fraud. In the end, Walsh became yet another foreign coach to leave in unceremonious fashion joining Spaniard Jose Brasa followed by his successor Michael Nobbs.
And it looks like that is how the story will unfold between Batra and the now in-charge Paul Van Ass. The two are alleged to have had an altercation in Antwerp, Belgium during the Hockey World league semi-finals after the group stage game against Malaysia. The point of debate is Batra allegedly speaking to the players after the game in reference to the previously drawn game against Pakistan and ‘reminding’ them that ‘the sponsors could leave if the performances didn’t improve’. However, Batra contests this claim by saying he was motivating the players for future games and only spoke to them after getting the nod from the Dutchman.
Since then, a lot of bad blood has been spilled by both parties with Batra calling Van Ass “(…) a good manager and a good motivator but not a good coach.”
While Paul has publicly stated he has been sacked after the tournament, Batra continues to deny that that piece has unfolded in this jigsaw.
This scenario of bickering between Batra and coaches isn’t new. After Walsh’s exit was on the cards, Batra commented: “Hockey India (HI) now does not require services of Mr. Terry Walsh and will look for a new chief coach with approval of Sports Authority of India (SAI). Regarding his showing commitment for players, I had in presence of Mr. Oltmans offered full salary for one month to Terry Walsh to stay with the Indian team till Champions Trophy and he refused till SAI agreed on his 120 days paid holiday in Australia and at that time he showed no concern for the Indian team, now he wants to project himself as martyr before the media and HI a villain,” to defend the decision.
And it happened with Brasa too. The Spaniard served the country for two years but was let go in 2010 despite winning a bronze medal at the Asian Games in Guangzhou and a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
Aware that he was on the verge of being sacked, Brasa said, “He (Batra) wanted me thrown out right after the World Cup, but he did not succeed. They wanted a puppet who would be under their complete control and I am not one.”
To which Batra shot back strongly: “What I feel is that Brasa wants to paint himself as a martyr because he knows his contract won’t be renewed after the Asian Games (2010). He has failed to deliver. Nothing is exceptional about him. He is the biggest mischief creator I’ve ever seen. He is breaking the team.”
Nobbs followed Brasa and had a fairly poor run. India finished bottom at the 2012 london Olympics and missed qualification for the World league in 2013 which brought about curtains for the Australian. The official word, however, was Nobbs’ health had deteriorated leading to his departure.
It isn’t down to Batra alone. KPS Gill before him who led the now defunct Indian Hockey Federation, was equally strong in the coach switching game. From 1994 till 2008, 18 coaches were changed.
Paul’s fate, in official circumstances, will be known today when the specially appointed committee comprising of former Olympians, players and members meet to adjudge the performance of both teams at the HWl and work on a roadmap for the Olympics.
Amid all this, India’s training camp in Shilaroo that began on July 19 has been completely ignored with the coach missing and his future in a limbo. The Olympic tournament begins in almost a year from today and it looks like it would be a bumpy ride.