Former Olympic gold-medalist Vasudevan Baskaran appointed men's hockey coach
Baskaran has previously coached the senior men's national team for 10 years. Under his guidance, India played 187 matches including two World Cups and the 2000 Olympic Games.
- Press Trust of India
- Updated: November 20, 2013 03:26 PM IST
Hockey India (HI) on Wednesday appointed former Olympic gold-medalist V Baskaran as a coach of the men's national team to work under recently-appointed chief coach Terry Walsh. HI also clarified that MK Kaushik would also remain on the coaching staff.
"Baskaran has joined the training camp of the senior men's hockey team at SAI Centre, Bhopal to help prepare the side for the FIH World League Finals in Delhi in January 2014 and the FIH World Cup to be held in The Netherlands next year," HI said in a statement.
HI Secretary General Narinder Batra felt Baskaran's experience will come in handy for the team. Baskaran has coached India several times before, the last coming at the 2006 Men's Hockey World Cup in Monchengladbach.
Currently he is the chief coach of Bhopal Badshahs in World Series Hockey league.
"Mr Baskaran will form an integral part of the coaching staff headed by Mr Terry Walsh. I am sure his valuable experience will help the Indian team during the 2014 World Cup and help take Indian hockey to new heights," Batra said.
Baskaran said he was pleased to return to the national coaching setup.
"It's a pleasant comeback for me with the senior men's national team. It will be excellent to work with Mr. Terry Walsh for the betterment of Indian hockey," he said.
Baskaran, who was the captain of the team that won the gold medal at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, played 287 international matches, including two World Cups.
He has also been a part of two Asian Games -- in 1974 Tehran (Silver) and in 1978 Bangkok (Silver) -- and a Champions Trophy in 1978 Pakistan (Bronze).
Baskaran has coached the senior men's national team for 10 years previously. Under his coaching, India played 187 matches including major tournaments such as the Olympic Games in 2000 (Sydney), two World Cups in 1998 in Utrecht and 2006 in Germany, 2006 Asian Games in Doha, the Junior World Cup in 1997 in Milton Keynes (Silver) and Champions Trophy in 1997 in Chennai.
In 1980, he received the Arjuna Award and the following year he has received the Padma Shri as well.