Citing unfavouroable conditions existing in the women’s hockey circuit, the celebrated coach MK Kaushik refuses to take up chief hockey coach assignment. At a time coaches are vying with each other to get into the national stream, his spurning of the offer surprised many.

Indian Women Hockey Federation has recently asked to him to report for the preparatory camp at Lucknow, but he declined. The camp has started on 10th at Lucknow, with only the assistant coach Narinder Singh Saini in attendance.

A fortnight ago in a meeting held under the ageis of the Sports Authority of India, in which, among others, Executive Director (teams), Kashyap, IWHF treasurer MP Ganesh, and Arjuna Awardee Sita Gossain participated, Kaushik’s name was unanimously recommend for the post. The IWHF thereafter informed him and his employer Haryana government.

However, Kaushik steadfastly turned down the offer. Although he refused to elaborate the reasons, it is gathered that he is utterly dissatisfied the way things related to high performance team preparations are being handled.

Ever since his team finished with a respectable bronze medal at the Doha Asian Games, Kaushik has been avoiding the job. Except for a brief period of 15 days before the India’s Japan tour, he was conspicuous for his absence in the camps and tours.

Kaushik is reportedly annoyed no selectors were sent to the Inter-Railways meet held recently at Bhopal, and then the authorities selecting a probables’ list on its own without any worthwhile feedback from technical people.

It is also gathered that no efforts were made by the competent authorities to get the videos of the recent international tournaments. Further, no one is helping him in the matters of acquiring competent hands for videography and video analysis.

On asked Kaushik said that he is always interested to coach women, but the demands of the international competitions are very high which many people here in India does not seem to understand.

“If am selfish, yes, I could have gone, but I want the team to deliver which is not possible under the existing situation. We have already lost nine months this year. This is not the way to prepare team for the Olympic Qualifier. I wish best of luck for anyone who takes up the job ”.

It is learnt GS Bhangu, who has been Jr. India coach and also MP State Women Hockey Academy coach, has already left from Gwalior to reach Lucknow.

The grand old man will add to his feather the third title — National Chief coach. Does not look like there are no coaches for women in India, as the wonderful Chak De film informed us?

Truth is stranger than fiction.