IGU goof-up leaves team without coach

NEW DELHI: When the Indian golfers tee off at the Asian Games, they will be bearing the burden of not just their golf clubs but also the pain of being governed by a federation that doesn’t care. The seven-member team will travel to Jakarta on Friday without a coach as Indian Golf Union (IGU) didn’t think it necessary to forward national coach Amandeep Johl’s name for accreditation when the ‘long list’ was sent to Indian Olympic Association (IOA) in May.

It’s an opportunity gone waste as Johl’s experience as a former top professional would have been invaluable, having played the Pondok Indah Golf Course, the venue for the August 23-26 competition. “It is disappointing as a lot of hard work has been put in the last three months,” said Johl on his omission.

The men’s team comprises Rayhan Thomas, Aadil Bedi, Harimohan Singh and Naved Kshitij Naved Kaul while Sifat Sagoo, Ridhima Dilawari and Diksha Dagar make up the women’s team. To familiarise the players, Johl made a trip to the golf course in June and in July during the week of the Indonesia Open, an event on the Asian Tour.

When contacted, Ishwar Achanta, IGU treasurer, said he wasn’t aware of Johl’s omission, but said officials would be accompanying the team.

The team also runs the risk of travelling without sufficient gear. Initially, “seven T-shirts for playing and non-playing days and a cap each” were given to the players as Achanta said the “IOA declined to give anything else,” After expressing helplessness, Achanta got back to say IGU had “made arrangements to equip the players with trousers, bags and caps with the Indian flag” before their departure on Friday.