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Aug
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Sundeep Misra
Friday, August 01, 2008
By Uthra Ganesan
August 01, 2008
In the first instance of administrative collision in the Indian Olympic Association’s ad-hoc committee to run hockey in the country, Aslam Sher Khan was on Thursday replaced by Ajit Pal Singh as the chairman of the national selection committee.
While IOA chairman Suresh Kalmadi insisted that the decision was part of a “rotation policy” for the chairman’s post, and every other member of the committee toed the line, it was clear that the decision was more a result of an ego tussle than anything else.
“We have decided to rotate the selection committee Chairman’s post. From now, Ajit Pal Singh will head the selection committee in place of Aslam Sher Khan,” Kalmadi said after the IOA ad-hoc committee’s first meeting with Olympians and players to chalk out a road-map for the development of the game.
When asked if, continuing with the rotation policy, the other members will also get to chair the selection panel in the near future (it’s been three months since Aslam was appointed), Kalmadi was evasive. “Let’s not go into all that at the moment,” he said.
Off the record, most agreed that several of the selection and ad-hoc committee members were unhappy with Aslam Sher Khan’s appointment ahead of Ajit Pal in the first place, as the latter is the senior-most member of the panel. Also, sources said the fact that Aslam was not a member of any state association went against him.
“Aslam is from Bhopal but he is not a member of the Bhopal hockey association.
“The internal politics of state hockey associations was an important reason for his removal, only three months after appointment,” said a senior member who was part of the discussions.
Though Aslam remains a member of the selection panel, he made his displeasure apparent by giving Thursday’s meeting a miss. “I am in Bhopal,” he said, adding that the move could be because some didn’t like his way of working.
On his part, Ajit Pal said he would try to do his best as the selection committee chairman. “I assure you that from my side there will be full transparency in the selection procedure. If it doesn’t happen, I will be accountable,” he said.
Other decisions:
• Select a pool of 20 coaches, from which six would be shortlisted to look after the national team till 2010
• Name a pool of 48 probables, a feeder for the national team. Another such group for juniors
• Send four senior coaches to Beijing for observation. The four coaches are women’s team chief coach MK Kaushik, present men’s junior coach AK Bansal and former assistant coaches Harendra Singh and AB Subbiah
• Develop local centres of excellence in traditional hockey strongholds, like Sansarpur, Bhopal, Sundergarh and Coorg.
(Courtesy, The Indian Express)
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5 comments so far...
Re: Aslam out, Ajitpal in
Again in the process of analyzing Indian Hockey, the positive points that stand out are:
-Transparency and Accountability in the Selection Process.
-Putting Ajit Pal Singh, at the Helm of Indian Hockey, who have player and management skills.
-Involving more coaches and players in the first hand experience of highest level of Hockey.
-Also very important step, developing local centres of excellence in traditional hockey strongholds like Sansarpur et al. which will feed the future pipeline for probables for selection committee to consider.
What I am trying to emphasize is that Holistic approach should be adopted towards Hockey Pyramid with its Foundation having a broad and strong base.
Thanks.
By Harinder Dhanoa on
Sunday, August 03, 2008
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Re: Aslam out, Ajitpal in
First these players should show some type of solidarity between them. Why this change as if it was a big mistake. At least Aslam had some principle in his approach and spoke against the past regime. Whereas Ajit Pal did not do it. If the rotation scheme is going to be seriously followed, after a year Dhanraj Pillay will be chairman. Will Ajit Pal agree to work under him? I think over all this is a joke which hockey does not need now
By Sushil Gupta on
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
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Re: Aslam out, Ajitpal in
I agree with Sushil, Aslam should have been retained as in charge. This talk of rotation makes lttle sense.
Ajitpal was a great player, no doubt the best cetre half in the world, but i am not sure about the management skills, nor professional approach he can bring in. That is why an foreign professional made perfect sense.
The other decisions given above like pool of coaches, 48 probables each for senior and juniors and local hockey centres are a good idea.
Only time will tell if we are moving in the right direction, I am not so sure.
By Baldip Singh on
Thursday, August 07, 2008
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Re: Aslam out, Ajitpal in
THE NEWS OF AJIT PAL SINGH REPLACING ASLAM SHER KHAN AS CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL HOCKEY TEAM ONLY EVOKES AMUSEMENT. ASLAM HIMSELF WAS A BAD CHOICE, AS HE HAS PROVED THAT HIS WORTHINESS IS OFTEN DEFEATED BY HIS EGO. AJIT PAL IS A MAN WHO PLAYS SAFE ALL THE WHILE AND SAFEGURADS HIS POSITION AT THE COST OF PRINCIPLES. THE VERY FACT RIC CHARLESWORTH HAS BEEN SMOKED OUT BY THE VESTED INTERESTS IN INDIAN HOCKEY REVEALS THE INNER WORKINGS OF THIS FEDERATION. A FORMER OLYMPIAN IS NOT THE NEED OF THE HOUR AS A COACH. IT IS SOMEONE WHO HAS A GRASP OF THE TREMENDOUS ADVANCEMENT THE GAME HAS BEEN MAKING OVER THE YEARS. IF INDIA COULD NOT UTILISE THE AVAILABILITY OF A VETERAN LIKE CHARLESWORTH, WE CANNOT HOPE FOR A BETTER FUTURE FOR HOCKEY IN INDIA. EVEN IN THE PAST, ALL EFORTS TO BRING IN COACHES FROM OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY WERE THWARTED BY THE COTERIE OF FORMER OLYMPIANS FOR FEAR OF BEING SIDELINED.
By JOY CLARENCE on
Thursday, August 07, 2008
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Re: Aslam out, Ajitpal in
It seems like we are back at square one. Replacing Aslam with Aitpal ...well, frankly what good is that going to do. Ajitpal, excellent and world class centre half in his day, but does he have professional/management skills, which is the call of the hour. I doubt it very much and let us face it he has been a selector onder KPS regime, what did he achieve, then. He merely endorsed what was put in front of him, by people who knew little about hockey and more about lining their own pockets. The more i look at Indian hockey the more convinced i am that it is a joke. Corruption/bhai,bhai,bhai attitude has to go and it is time to face reality or perish from the elite playing nations. The solutions are staring in the face but seems like opportunities have gone begging as Ric Charlesworth episode demonstrates.
Rotating system....seems like they will be rotating in second division hockey!
By Baldip Sidhu on
Thursday, August 07, 2008
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