New Delhi 19th June 2014: With an aim to find fresh talents in the country and to benefit the game at all levels, Hockey India today announced the appointment of Olympic Gold Medalist Mr. V Baskaran as the Manager, High Performance (South Zone) Hockey India. He will be working under Director High Performance Mr. Roelant Oltmans.
Former coach of the Senior Men Hockey Team, V Baskaran will be working in the direction of implementing the Hockey India development programme as part of overall High Performance programme for men and women hockey at the grassroots level including school, college and district level hockey in the South Zone of the country. Mr. Baskaran will closely work with Hockey India State Member Units to ensure consistency and delivery of Hockey India High Performance coaching programmes. Also, he will monitor and evaluate the performance of coaches in Hockey India Member Units and Academies and identify the talent for elite coaching opportunities. In consultation with Director, High Performance, Mr. Baskaran will create, maintain and develop technical content for dissemination. Apart from it all, he will also look to identify junior and sub junior players who can be further brushed up for the national program.
Mr. Baskaran is set to take charge of his responsibilities, in his new role as the Manager, High Performance (South Zone) Hockey India, starting 1st July 2014. He will be responsible for the South Zone which comprises of Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andaman and Nicobar, Puducherry, Telangana and Seemandhra.
Dr. Narinder Batra, Secretary General Hockey India said “I welcome Mr. V Baskaran as Manager, High Performance (South Zone). He has joined at an opportune time when hockey as a sport is regaining acceptance and there is increasing interest among youth to associate with the sport. His appointment is another step taken by Hockey India to promote the hockey at the grassroots level. Mr. Baskaran will also help to identify young talent”.
Speaking on his appointment Mr. Baskaran said “I thank Hockey India for giving me an opportunity to work in the grassroots of South Zone. I am sure that under the guidance of Director High Performance Mr. Roelant Oltmans and with the support of Hockey India Member Units and Academies, we will successfully implement Hockey India High Performance programmes in our areas which will further help us to find young talent”.
Mr. Baskaran who was the captain of the team that won the gold medal at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow has 287 internationals caps and has represented India in the Olympic Games in 1976 Montreal, two World Cups in 1973 Amsterdam (Silver) and in 1978 Buenos Aires, two Asian Games in 1974 Tehran (Silver) and in 1978 Bangkok (Silver) and Champions Trophy in 1978 Pakistan (Bronze).
Mr. Baskaran coached the senior men national team for ten years. Under his coaching India had played 187 matches including major tournaments such as the Olympic Games in 2000 (Sydney), two World Cups in 1998 in Utrecht and 2006 in Germany, Asian Games 2006 in Doha, Junior World Cup in 1997 in Milton Keynes (Silver) and Champions Trophy in 1997 in Chennai. In 1980, he received the Arjuna Award and in the next year he received Padamshri Award.
