The long awaited employment of a high caliber international expert to guide both the Indian men’s and women’s hockey (senior and junior) is around the corner.

After extensive search for potential and available candidates a principal agreement has now been reached with Dr. Ric Charlesworth from Australia to be employed as Expert Coach/Technical Advisor for Indian Hockey, thanks to the full co-operation of the Sports Authority of India, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the Indian Olympic Association and the International Hockey Federation (FIH).

The appointment of Charlesworth is one of the outcomes of the ‘Promotion Indian Hockey’ project of the FIH in cooperation with the Indian Hockey Confederation, the Indian Olympic Association and Olympic Solidarity of the IOC.

There is consensus about the scope of the job aiming at assessing and - where necessary - redesigning structures, methods and plans in place so that India, in a year’s time and regardless of short term results, will be ready to embark on its campaign to succeed in the World Cups 2010, the Commonwealth Games 2010 and the Olympic Games 2012.

At the same time the Expert Coach/Technical Advisor will be available to the present coaching staff in place for any advice and input they may need in the lead up to the WorldHockey Olympic Qualifying tournaments 2008 and when successful for the Olympic Games in Beijing 2008.  

Final details of the contract will be dealt with in the weeks to come and it is expected that Charlesworth - due to existing commitments - will be operational by the beginning of December.

Upon his arrival, details of his activities will be presented in a press meeting to be announced later.    

The FIH Executive Board is meeting in Delhi, India from 9-11 November 2007, while the FIH Office Bearers are visiting India from 5-11 November 2007. Until that moment, no further information is to be expected.

Source: IHC