New Delhi, Sept. 15: The outcome of the Chile Olympic qualifiers might have left Indian hockey in dire straits, but, six months later it is time to pick up the pieces once again.

For that, the five wise men, along with the ad-hoc committee chaired by Suresh Kalmadi, will hold a crucial meeting in the capital on Tuesday. The appointment of a new national coach and the selection of 50 probables for the India camp, are on the agenda .

Following the K.P.S. Gill saga and the chaotic times under the then-coach Joaquim Carvalho, the ad-hoc committee is now keen to find a man who can bail out the national game from the mess.

The appointment will be done keeping in mind the crucial 2010 Commonwealth Games and the hockey World Cup — both to be staged in the Capital.

Though a number of names did the rounds initially, sources suggest that Maharaj Krishan Kaushik has been shortlisted for the hot seat. Air India coach Harendra Singh is expected to join as assistant coach, while Bangalore-based A.B. Subbaiah will be hired as the goalkeeping expert.

Ajay Kumar Bansal, who last coached India at the Azlan Shah tournament in May, will be retained as the junior coach, it was learnt.

Though an official announcement is awaited, chairman of selectors Ajitpal Singh said on Monday, “The best man will be picked keeping in mind the interest of the game. It will be a crucial decision, wait till tomorrow.”

Though Kaushik’s experience and success rate with the men’s and women’s team in the past make him the best of the lot, the Delhi-based coach is already in charge of the women’s national team.

Any change in order will mean that the ad-hoc committee will then have a separate job of finding a coach for the women’s team. Also, it remains to be seen if the decision will find favour with the Indian Women’s Hockey Federation.

Interestingly, Kaushik has not joined the ongoing women’s team camp in Bangalore, Vasu Thapliyal is taking charge in his absence.

Kaushik himself refused to divulge much. “Yes, I am in Delhi at present. The ad-hoc committee will take a decision tomorrow, and whatever they decide will be acceptable to me.”

There were also doubts regarding Subbaiah initially, after he had informed the committee of his unavailability owing to prior commitments. The induction of Kaushik, however, forced him to change his mind.

The four coaches travelled to Beijing Summer Games last month, to gather inputs for future events.

By Harpreet Kaur Lamba

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