By Admin 
The Indian women’s hockey team is all set to leave for the Junior World Cup in Santiago, Chile, on Sunday amidst a cloud of uncertainty over the conduct of one of its coaches. Hockey India made it categorically clear that there was no question of a change in personnel accompanying the girls for the important assignment.
With a coach associated with the team under the scanner for ‘sexual misconduct’ from the Sports Ministry, sources said Hockey India was initially conflicted on his continuation with the team for the major competition. There was even talk of getting senior team chief coach Harendra Singh ready and his visa process expedited as back-up but the idea was eventually dropped.
HI officials denied any directions from the ministry to withdraw the person. “As of now, there is no formal or informal complaint with HI. We have not been directed anything by the ministry. Why should we replace a coach at the last minute without any reason,” HI secretary general Bhola Nath Singh countered.
Sources said HI president Dilip Tirkey had called upon the federation’s committee on sexual harassment to look into the matter. “Dilip was shocked at the allegations and asked the committee to talk to the players about it. All the World Cup-bound girls were spoken to individually and the coach has their approval,” sources confirmed.
The Sports Ministry had initiated action after being made aware of alleged frequent visitations by a player to the coach’s room at irregular hours by the complainant during the team’s foreign tours to Europe and Australia earlier this year.