More than six months after India’s Olympic qualifiers debacle, and four months after the Indian Hockey Federation was suspended, the men’s team finally seems to have got a coach.

At a selection committee meeting chaired by IOA secretary general Randhir Singh, the decision to appoint MK Kaushik as the chief coach of the national team was taken. Kaushik returns to the post after a 10-year gap.

While no official announcement was made, Kaushik confirmed that he has been informed about the decision. “Yes, I was called in the evening (after the meeting got over) and told about the decision,” he said. “But the official announcement will be made only later.”

Kaushik was at the helm when India won the Bangkok Asian Games in 1998. Immediately after that, he and seven senior players were unceremoniously sacked by KPS Gill. For the past several years, Kaushik has been with the senior women’s team.

Asked if he was willing to take on the responsibility again, Kaushik said he was willing provided he had the necessary clearance from his department (the Haryana government sports board).

“For almost two years, I have not been working properly with the women’s team either. Now, the Sports Authority of India have written to my department and agreed to take me on deputation till 2010, allowing me to work full time with the team,” he said.

It has also been decided that former junior coach Harendra Singh will assist Kaushik while AB Subbiah will be the goalkeeping coach. Subbiah had earlier worked with Kaushik during his stint with the women’s team.

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