Negi’s self-promotion to coach Indian eves irks ministry

NEW DELHI: Former India goalkeeper Mir Ranjan Negi’s keen interest in the vacant coach’s post of the women’s hockey team has not gone down well with the Sports Ministry, which has warned candidates to refrain from self-promoting their names for the job in future.

“In future arrangements, no coach should self-promote himself or herself for the job,” a Sports Ministry source said.

After M K Kaushik’s resignation from the post in the wake of a sex scandal earlier this week, Negi has expressed his desire to become the new coach of the national women’s hockey team and had sent his application to Hockey India.

No sooner had Negi thrown his hat in the ring for the job, some players have thwarted his candidature by doubting the former goalkeeping coach’s ability, which also irked the Ministry.

“The team members also cannot start talking about who should take what job. The government will take a very considered decision after going through all the facts,” the source said.

The Indian women’s team coach’s job is lying vacant after the resignation of Kaushik, against whom a fringe player Ranjitha Devi has complained of sexual harassment.