New Delhi,, Sept. 17: Images of coach M.K. Kaushik waving the tri-colour on the podium after India beat South Korea in the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games final are still vivid in the eyes of hockey lovers across the country. The triumph marked a defining moment in Indian hockey, the country winning its first Asian Games medal in 32 years.

As Kaushik returns to the men’s hockey fold after a gap of 10 years — the ad-hoc committee making the news official on Wednesday — nothing less than a miracle is expected from the coach.

The year gone by has seen men’s hockey go from bad to worse. Beginning with the first-ever pre-Olympic Games elimination to the now-displaced IHF secretary K. Jothikumaran being caught in an alleged bribery scandal, the national sport was in the news for all the wrong reasons.

As Kaushik prepares to take the first step towards redemption, the Arjuna awardee knows that the path will be a difficult one. Said Kaushik here on Wednesday”Anyone can coach a champion team, but someone has to take charge at this stage as well. Personally, I would not consider this as a good or bad stage. It is an honour for me and I will find a way despite the odds.

“The path will be difficult for sure. The Beijing Olympics miss has been the toughest period in Indian hockey. But then one has to begin from the lowest step.” Kaushik, who has been the women’s hockey coach for the last four years, will be assisted by Harendra Singh, former midfielder Ramandeep Singh and goalkeeping coach Romeo James.

The immediate task for the thinktank would be to put together a plan and seek international assignments against top teams to prepare for crucial assignments ahead.

Said Kaushik, who will continue till the 2010 Asian Games, “The immediate challenge is to resurrect the belief in the boys. The dark memories of the Chile qualifiers have to be erased. Beginning from physical fitness, recognising a pool of players and then preparing them for top level matches, a proper procedure will be put into place. I have requested for a national camp soon so that we can channelise our energies in the right direction,” he said.

“The European nations are way ahead of us. The planning is done in advance, unlike India. For us to reach the level, the work has to begin right now.”

Not short on experience, Kaushik has often been deemed as the man with the Midas touch. His triumph at the 1998 Asian Games gold was followed by the coveted yellow medal with the women’s team at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

It was, however, not a smooth journey all the way for the Delhi-based coach. The 1998 triumph soon came to naught when Kaushik, along with seven senior players, was kicked out by K.P.S. Gill as soon as the team returned home. Said the chief coach, “Sadly, the system in India is such that one has to deal with a lot of problems. Over the years, we have learnt to live with them and eventually come out of it. We just need to adopt an honest approach.”

Dilip Tirkey omitted

Skipper Dilip Tirkey was the surprise omission as the committee named 48 probables for the upcoming camp. Also to miss the bus were promising midfielders V.S. Vinaya, Bimal Lakra and striker Deepak Thakur. The committee said that the probables were chosen keeping in mind the future events. Said Kaushik, “Anyone who does well and is fit will make be part of the team. Dilip is a quality player and there is no reason he cannot make it again.”