The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has recently announced OPEX (Operation Excellence) aiming preparation for the 2012 Olympics. It was made known the OPEX will be held on mission mode. We don’t know whether it is really on mission mode or missing mode, but what is sure is it is on Hockey Mode.

Ministry has convened a hockey specific meeting yesterday and another planned for today. Both Hockey India, Indian Hockey Federation Officials and Sports Authority of India bosses, beside key Ministry officials are attending these meetings in New Delhi.

The ministry has announced starting of the camp in New Delhi, and assured Supreme Court of India to ‘solve’ the issue of legitimate body to control hockey in India. Therefore, the flurry of activities on hockey front is not unexpected.

It seems both HI and IHF has forwarded their list of probables, and if the sources are to be believed, two camps are to take place simultaneously, in order to please both. This indicates not only the complicity of the issues but also dilemma of the Ministry, and its wavering wont.

It is also gathered the Hockey India’s list of 35 probables includes most of the present senior team members with a sprinkling of evelopment (?) and junior national team stars. This list has the blessing of Sukhvir Grewal, who is now the Director of Coaching in the Hockey India set up.

It is clear now Harendra Singh has been recommended for the men’s Chief coach slot with Jugraj and Md. Riaz as his deputies. CR Kumar is the choice for the women’s team with Sanggai Chanu and Sumrai Tete as his deputies for women’s main team.

Hockey India has told the Ministry that it is not going for foreign coach as it will take long time to process.

The above probables list along with coaches for junior teams are expected to be ratified by the Ministry before 9th March, the scheduled date for the training camp in Delhi.

Meanwhile some players have got the communication for the camp from Hockey India.