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Walsh to stay as hockey coach

A day after his dramatic announcement to quit, India’s chief hockey coach Terry Walsh on Wednesday withdrew his resignation after a meeting with top sports officials, who have assured the Australian that his concerns will be addressed in a fresh contract.

After a hectic meeting with the Sports Ministry and SAI officials, the 60-year-old Walsh finally decided to withdraw his resignation, much to the relief of the country’s hockey fraternity. Walsh’s withdrawal of the resignation was announced by the Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who tweeted, ‘I am happy that after SAI’s efforts #TerryWalsh is back. Looking ahead for a bright future for hockey in India.’

SAI director general Jiji Thomson said issues raised by Walsh will be addressed in a fresh contract, which will be offered to him before his current contract expire on November 19. ‘Since we never accepted his resignation, the question of its withdrawal does not arise. As per his contract, Walsh had to give us a month’s notice period which he gave on Wednesday. We had a fruitful meeting with him on Wednesday. The issues which he had raised can easily be solved and we have assured him that they will be solved before his contract expires on November 19. We will issue him a new contract, which will take into consideration all his demands,’ Thomson said.

Asked whether Walsh, who had guided the Indian team to a historic gold at Incheon Asian Games, will continue to be India’s chief coach, Thomson said: ‘Yes, there is no question about it. He will continue in his role with the team.’

Walsh, a noted Olympian himself, had created a flutter on Tuesday by suddenly announcing his resignation, saying that he was finding it difficult to adjust to the decision-making style of the sporting bureaucracy in the country. His resignation also sparked off a blame game between Hockey India and Sports Authority of India.
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