Archers likely to get a foreign coach soon says SAI chief
After the disappointing performance by Indian archers at the London Olympics, there is a likelihood that a foreign coach will be in place before too long.
The six-member Indian archery team, including World No.1 Deepika Kumari, went to the Games with high expectations, being touted as a genuine medal contender.
But both the teams (men's and women's) went out in the first elimination rounds, and there was not much to rejoice in the individual events as well.
Limba Ram's contract as a coach expired at the end of the Olympics
The archers were not said to be satisfied with the training methods adopted by chief coach Limba Ram, whose contract expired at the end of the Olympics. Almost all of those, who competed in London, had trained under Korean coach Lim Chae Woong, and are full of praise for his contribution.
'We are seriously considering employing a foreign coach, and will discuss this matter with the Archery Association of India (AAI) very shortly,' Sports Authority of India (SAI) director general Gopal Krishan told Mail Today on Tuesday.
All the national coaches have to sign contracts with SAI, which pays their remuneration. Krishan indicated that the delay in discussions was only because there was nobody to talk to in the federation right now.
'AAI secretary Paresh Nath Mukherjee has resigned after the Olympics. Once they have someone in his place, we can talk about the issue.' Though the archers have spoken in Lim's favour, Krishan said that the procedure requires three or four names to be shortlisted before a final decision.
'As Lim is already employed by the Indian Army, we can also have someone better if we find one.
There is no obstacle in having two foreign coaches,' the SAI director general said. However, he said that a foreign coach will not spell the end of the stints of the Indian staff. 'A foreign coach can give us the extra edge in terms of modern knowhow and techniques.
Whatever he has achieved till now has been under the supervision of the Indian coaches only. Limba Ram had his own qualities and we cannot discount them.
A foreign coach will only be like the icing on the cake,' Krishan felt. The other major disappointment for India at the London Olympics was hockey, but SAI has recommended that chief coach Michael Nobbs's contract be renewed.
'We have recommended to the government that Nobbs be kept at the helm till December 2014 (till the end of the Incheon Asian Games). SAI also has new women's hockey coach Neil Hawgood and exercise physiologist Ben Dascombe on its roll.
'The target for them will be a podium finish at the next Asian Games and qualifying for the 2016 Rio Olympics,' the SAI head added.
