Can a legendary Australian who was regarded as the best player for a decade (1976-86) and produced awesome result as the coach of the Australian women’s team, usher a change in Indian hockey? Or, will Ric be forced to give up after spending six-eight months here, because “foreign coaches” are considered “unsuitable for Indian conditions”?

I won’t be surprised if comparisons are made between Ric Charlesworth and Greg Chappell (eerily, they are contemporaries) but Ric’s achievement as the coach of the Australian women’s team is incomparable in hockey (men’s or women’s) and he’s in elite company in all of sports.

I have strong reasons to believe that the entire process--to get a reputed foreign coach actively involved in the makeover of Indian hockey—which has been initiated by no less than the FIH and IOC president, Jacques Rogge, to check hockey’s waning popularity in the Olympic Games by using India as a catalyst, could be derailed in the coming months by powerful lobbies. Namely: First, the IHF president KPS Gill, I’m told, is not sure whether a foreign coach can work in Indian condition. Secondly, some of our former coaches and Olympians cannot rise above petty issues, such as fighting over honorary perks and junkets and they will be desperately seeking attention on the injustice done to them, with the appointment of a foreigner.

Till the 1970s, a lot of Indian players used to be in demand as coaches in Europe and Africa. Today, I doubt if even Tanzania (India beat them 19-1 in the 1980 Olympics) would risk approaching us.

Though, after Chak De! India, all of us have become a bit hopeful about Indian hockey. In 2003, when Ric told a few of us Indian journalists during the Champions Trophy held in Amstelveen (Holland) that he was interested in coaching India, I googled Charlesworth to find out more about his stint with the Australian women’s team. My search on the 2000 Olympics preparation yielded some interesting nuggets on the legend. I had expected a plethora of positive comments about Ric’s emphasis on scientific approach, planning and fitness of the team etc. But, there was something totally different and unique topic for discussion in the Australian media: It was about Ric’s passion, loyalty and motivation he brought as a coach to get the best from his team. No wonder, the Hockeyroos dominated the Olympics for the second time in-a-row.

I’m thrilled to inform you that recently I spotted one such coach in Indian hockey: "Kabir Shahrukh Khan".

Tailpiece:
I recently met Dr Howard, 95 years of age. An American coach, who took over as principal of the Lucknow Christian Medical College, he headed the Rajkumari Amrit Kaur Scheme, the fore-runner to the National Institute of Sports (NIS) in Patiala which was created to promote sports after Independence and was Milkha Singh’s coach at the 1958 Commonwealth Games, where the ‘Flying Sikh’ won a gold medal. Dr Howard is currently on a month-long visit to India after three decades. He spent 33 years in Indian athletics (from 1944-77). The good Doctor has a great memory and interesting tales about Indian sports. More of it in the next.

(The writer works for the Mint newspaper)