Hindustan Times: Indian coaches to oversee National Hockey Academy

By Navneet Singh

NEW DELHI: The long-awaited National Hockey Academy has been set up here at the National Stadium with focus on building teams for future Olympics. Forty trainees from the sub-junior national camp between 16-18 years, including 16 girls, have been shortlisted. However, only 18 boys and six girls have reported so far. Others are expected to join soon.

A joint venture between Hockey India (HI) and the Sports Authority of India (SAI), the initiative is the first of its kind in the country.

According to HI president Narinder Batra, the aim is to ensure good foundations are laid for the sport. The academy started functioning on August 17, but its formal inauguration will take place next month.

High-performance director Roelant Oltmans will monitor the academy on a regular basis, and Batra ruled out the possibility of a foreign expert being appointed to oversee the functioning. Apart from being the high-performance director, Oltmans is also head coach of the men’s team. It is therefore uncertain whether he will continue to hold his position as national coach or if a new coach would be appointed.

Batra added the academy wants to “groom Indian coaches,” and this could be the reason why Narinder Saini, a seasoned SAI coach, has been assigned to train the boys.

Kuldip Kaur, also from SAI, will oversee the girls. Both coaches are posted at the National Stadium. The other coaching staff, including a scientific advisor, will be appointed shortly as Oltmans is on leave till September 17.