Indian Hockey Team Will Suffer if Terry Walsh Leaves: Roelant Oltmans
Terry Walsh, who guided India to an Asian games gold medal after 16 years, resigned October 21 citing "difficulty in adjusting to the functioning of the country's bureaucratic system" and is now serving one-month resignation notice period.
Indian hockey's high performance director Roelant Oltmans said on Saturday the national team's preparation for the 2016 Rio Olympics will suffer if current chief coach Terry Walsh does not accept a new contract from the Sports Authority of India (SAI).
Terry Walsh, who guided India to an Asian games gold medal after 16 years, resigned on October 21 citing "difficulty in adjusting to the functioning of the country's bureaucratic system" and is now serving one-month resignation notice period. (Ministry Appoints Six-Member Panel)
SAI director general Jiji Thomson said the Australian will be offered a new contract before October 19.
"Of course it (Walsh not staying as chief coach) will have an effect. He has proved that he is a very good coach and if that happens, it will have an effect," Oltmans said.
But Oltmans is hopeful that Walsh and the SAI will come up with a solution which will ensure that Walsh stays as Indian coach.
"We had some constructive discussions regarding the matter. I am hoping that they will reach an agreement."