Indian hockey doesn`t need foreign coaches: Balbir Singh Sr

Chandigarh, July 13: Irked by the hullabaloo over Ric Charlesworth’s out-of-the-blue resignation from the technical advisor’s post, Olympian Balbir Singh Sr today said India does not need foreign coaches at all to revive hockey’s past glory in the country.

The hockey legend said he had nothing against the Australian but it was baffling to see a controversy brewing after his hasty resignation.

“I respect Charlesworth and I know he is a competent and an intelligent person, but I fail to understand why a controversy should erupt if he decides to go,” said 84-year-old Balbir Sr, the first hockey player to win the Padma Shree award.

According to him, bringing in coaches from abroad is simply not the way to revive the game’s sagging fortune in the country.

“Foreign coaches are like baby sitters. Communication with players has always been a problem with them and cultural differences too haven’t helped our cause,” he said.