Kaushik appointed men's hockey coach

Hockey India (HI) Wednesday appointed Olympic gold medallist Maharaj Krishan Kaushik as the men's hockey team coach.

The decision comes in the wake of Michael Nobbs' removal as the team's head coach.

"I am happy with my appointment with the senior men's team. I have experience of working with different people from the coaching fraternity and will give my best," said Kaushik, who was a member of the 1980 Olympic gold medal-winning team.

Kaushik, who was working with the women's team from 1991, had to step aside in 2010 after a female player levelled allegations of sexual harassment against him. The player's letter to the HI was signed by her 31 team mates but nothing was proved against Kaushik.

Kaushik will join the training camp of the senior men's team starting from July 16 at the SAI Centre in Bangalore for the preparations for the ninth Asia Cup to be held in Malaysia next month from Aug 24 to Sep 1 later this year.

Elena Norman, CEO of HI, and secretary general Narinder Batra welcomed Kaushik's appointment.

"Kaushik had the desired credentials to work with the senior men team. I am hopeful that with his contribution the team will make improvement in the coming days and wish the team good luck to win the Asia Cup and book their berth for the FIH World Cup 2014," he said.

Under his coaching, India men's team had won their last major international tournament, the 1998 Asian Games, Bangkok. Also, the Indian women's team had won bronze medal at the Doha Asian Games in 2006 under his coaching.