Women's hockey controversy: Hockey India's General Secretary questioned the former coach's effectiveness

Indian women's hockey has had a very poor few months, and Hockey India has also been the target of accusations. The Indian women's team, which placed fourth in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, was unable to earn a spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Following this, Janek Schopman, the head coach, and Elena Norman, the CEO of Hockey India, resigned from their positions and levelled grave accusations against the organisation. But now Hockey India General Secretary Bholanath Singh hit back and said that he had already said that the women's team would not be able to qualify for the Paris Olympics under Shopman.

In an interview, Bholanath Singh said, yes, I had already told everyone clearly that, with Shopman as the coach, the women's hockey team would not be able to qualify for the Paris Olympics because his way of working was not right. Not only me but our selectors also believed the same.

Bholanath said Shopman had asked us for a physiologist for the team. He also gave a name of his choice and quoted his fee as that of the physiologist of the Indian men's hockey team. I said that the physiologist of the women's team is not of the same level as the men's team and his fees should be reduced, but she was adamant. Ultimately we resolved the matter and added a physiologist of his choice to the team.

The General Secretary of Hockey India rejected the allegations made by Shopman and CEO Elena Norman of factionalism and interference in the work. Bholanath said, be it women's or men's team, this has not happened with anyone. Whatever he said, we did it immediately. We never interfere. We only want one thing and that is a good result, which Shopman failed to deliver.

After the departure of Janek Schopman, the search for a new coach started. Bholanath said we have started talks with the candidates for the new coach. All I can say right now is that whatever we do will be good. Soon you all will know about the new coach.