The fate of India's hockey coach Paul van Ass will be decided on Friday by a special committee and one is not sure as to what the future holds for van Ass. The Dutchman is willing to come back and coach India, but he does not want anyone interfering in his work.
To be fair, Paul van Ass has played a major role in improving the level of Indian hockey, which was seen during India's performance at the Sultan Azlan Shah and the Hockey World League where the men in blue finished third and fourth respectively.
There were plenty of positive outcomes from the tournaments to expect a bright future for team India and their preparation for the 2016 Rio Olympics seemed to be on the right track until Paul van Ass claimed that he has been sacked as coach of India.
This came as a major surprise to many, but later things cleared out and it was understood that the root cause of the 'sacking' was the altercation that had taken place between van Ass and Hockey India President Narinder Batra after India defeated Malaysia in the Hockey World League.
Recently Batra even went on the extent of stating van Ass as 'not a good coach' and the Dutchman reacted to it stating that the Batra does not know the game.
"He cannot judge what he doesn't know. It's useless. Such remarks prove that he doesn't know the game but I am least interested in all these," PTI quoted van Ass as saying.
Despite what has happened in the last few days with his sacking and the spat bagging headlines, van Ass is ready to return.
"But if am asked to return I am fine. But before that we will have lots of discussion. I am just very straight. My position is simple 'don't interfere in my primary process'".
The Dutchman is just waiting for the official word from Hockey India about his fate.
"It's too early to jump the gun. Let's wait and see. The fact is I am not welcome any more. For sure I have been sacked just a week after the tournament (in Antwerp). I am just waiting for the official word.
"But whatever happens I am OK. I have never quit the job. I have never said I have quit. What can you do if you are fired?," said van Ass.
Irrespective of what fate awaits van Ass, the decision has to be taken with the view of 2016 Rio Olympics as well. With such an episode, it is India hockey and its players, which are at a huge loss.
