Indian hockey in right direction: Kalmadi

19 Feb 2009,

NEW DELHI: The Indian hockey team has lost twice to the Australian Development team in their ongoing Australia-New Zealand tour but Indian Olympic
Association President Suresh Kalmadi on Thursday put up a brave face and said the game’s revival was moving in the right direction.

“Our senior team did well (in Punjab Gold Cup). The juniors also did well (in Argentina). So we are doing well,” Kalmadi said.

He said the revival of the game was at the top of the agenda of the ad-hoc committee under him which took over the reins after KPS Gill-led Indian hockey Federation (IHF) was dissolved last year.

“We have been taking care of the game and following the developments. We have got support from the International Hockey Federation (FIH) and we have been able to retain the right to host 2010 World Cup in India,” Kalmadi said on the sidelines of a function to launch a business website linked with the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Kalmadi was non-committal when asked about the appointment of Spaniard Joseph Brasa, who was recently interviewed by the IOA Ad-hoc Committee, but said a foreign coach will eventually take charge of the Indian team.

“We have a few names from foreign countries for the appointment of the coach. We will appoint one in due course,” he said but declined to give any specific name or country to which the coach belongs

Courtesy: Times of India