India’s hockey bosses held a series of meetings for the second successive day to formulate a strategy to revive the sport amidst indication that Australian legend Ric Charlesworth will play a pivotal role in the scheme of things.
It was a hectic day of parleys which saw IHF chief KPS Gill meeting chief coach Joaquim Carvalho and several former Olympians for the first time after the Santiago debacle.

While the IHF officials remained tight-lipped about the developments on Tuesday, Charlesworth’s brief statement gave enough indication that his resentment has been taken note of by the federation’s top brass.

Asked about his association with the senior men’s team, Charlesworth said, “We have moved forward. But we will have more meetings.”

Charlesworth, who had refused to work with the junior teams, did not elaborate as to what transpired in his second meeting with Gill, but his comments have fuelled speculation that he could be given some role with the senior team as well.

Charlesworth, a former Australian captain and one of the greats of the game, was roped in by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) under its ‘Promoting Indian Hockey’ project but the IHF had kept him away from the senior team.

The fact that Charlesworth came to the meeting with FIH representative and Project Director of ‘Promoting Indian Hockey’ Bob Davidzon was also significant.

There was a fresh speculation over the role of chief coach Joaquim Carvalho with a top source indicating that his fate would be decided after the office-bearers’ meeting scheduled to be held on Wednesday.

The meeting was attended by several greats of game like Ajitpal Singh, Harmik Singh, Balbir Singh, Baldev Singh, BP Govinda, MP Ganesh, Charles Cornelius, Zafar Iqbal, Gurbux Singh and IHF Secretary K Jothikumaran.

A source present at the meeting said the legends suggested that the IHF should form a sub-committee comprising former players and coaches who would work with Charlesworth -- who would be in role of a consultant -- to monitor and implement the programme to revive Indian hockey.

The Olympians wanted Charlesworth to be involved with the senior men’s team so that the players could gain from his experience and expertise. “What is the point of having Charlesworth and not involving him in the affairs of the senior team? It is the senior team which takes part in important tournaments. A solution should be found out to involve him,” one of the Olympians said.