Interview

14-12 Pargat Singh uncertain about role in hockey

Interview Date : 2010-12-14

Interview By: India Today

Description :

Pargat, who had been at loggerheads with the Hockey India establishment, was drafted in at its special general council meeting in a sign of a thaw in relations.

The defender of yesteryears will have a meeting with the top brass of the federation to chart a way ahead. "The role of the committee is yet to be defined. There is no plan of action as yet," Pargat told MAIL TODAY on Monday.

"I will hold a meeting with the Hockey India officials before deciding what needs to be done. As yet, there is no clarity in this matter."

The development committee is supposed to comprise seven members, but there is no clue about the rest of the panellists will be. "We will focus on the technical aspect of the game. I will have a meeting with the Hockey India officials and let's see what comes out of it," Pargat said.

The Indian men's and women's teams are currently without coaches and even though the committee is supposed to look into the matter, the former captain said a lot needs to be done beforehand.

"I need to find out who the applicants for the job are. It is no use going with preconceived notions as the desired candidate may not be available.

"In fact, most countries enter into discussions with prospects six or eight months beforehand. A lot of homework and negotiations go into these matters," Pargat said.

When contacted, Hockey India secretary general Narinder Batra said the other members of the committee will be named soon. "We are having our internal discussions and the names of the committee members will be released in a few days," Batra told MAIL TODAY.

"We will have Olympians, World Cup players and other hockey experts in then panel." As far as the role of the committee is concerned, he said it will have a free hand in all aspects related to the game.

"Development of hockey at all levels - senior, junior, sub-junior - is their brief. We will also go by their advice the choice of coaches and they will take their recommendations to the Sports Authority of India."

Without letting out names, Batra said the compilation process regarding application for coaching jobs is on. "The committee will devise the schedule of events. The team has to go through Olympic qualifiers and hence, the experts will have to work out a plan to ensure that the team is at its peak during important tournaments."

India Today