Paul Van Ass Says He has Been Sacked as India Hockey Coach

Paul Van Ass became the fourth Indian hockey national coach to make an unceremonious exit after the Dutchman said he was sacked by Hockey India (HI) on Monday. Van Ass took over the reigns as the national coach in January after the controversial ouster of Australian Terry Walsh, who guided India to a gold medal at the Incheon Asian Games last year. (Click here for latest Hockey News)

"I've been sacked, I've been fired. I was told this verbally by Hockey India director Roelant Oltmans after the World League Semifinals in Belgium," Van Ass told NDTV.

Van Ass had a public spat with Hockey India president Narinder Batra after the quarter-final match against Malaysia at the World League semifinals.

Batra had entered the field of play and had had a word with the players. Van Ass however intervened and asked him to leave the field, which did not go down well with the HI president.

"I don't know the reason, but I think it could be because I asked Hockey India president Mr Batra to leave the turf during the quarter-final match," Van Ass added.

The Dutch coach is still waiting for an official statement from the federation. However, Batra said that van Ass has not officially been sacked as yet. "We have officially not sacked him. Hockey India has called its meeting on July 24 to take final call on Van," Batra told NDTV.

Van Ass though said that he was given his marching orders via email. "Exactly a week ago, I was also emailed the same. I haven't got any documents yet, they haven't sent me a ticket back to join the camp. So clearly they don't want me back," he said.

Van Ass's predecessor Walsh had quit last November after the Sports Authority of India failed to meet his financial demands. Jose Brasa and Michael Nobbs had also left the country on an unceremonious note.

In his two assignments, India won bronze at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup and finished fourth at the Hockey World League Semifinals in Antwerp.