Golf federation goof-up leaves team without coach in Jakarta

NEWDELHI: 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 (four boys and three girls) will travel to Jakarta on Friday without a coach as the 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 the 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, many times in his playing days.

“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

IGU DID NOT SEND THE NAME OF COACH AMANDEEP JOHL FOR ACCREDITATION TO THE INDIAN OLYMPIC ASSOCIATION (IOA).

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.

FEDERATION UNAWARE

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. Yardage books were bought and pictures clicked of each hole and shared to help the players memorise the course layout.

Then, there were tips from top pros Gaganjeet Bhullar, Shiv Kapur and Chiragh Kumar, medallists at the Asian Games, on tackling the golf course and their memories and experience of the Games. In Johl’s absence, it will be the familiarisation trips that will aid the players.

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

LACK OF GEAR

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,” perhaps a reflection on IGU’s status as a derecognised NSF (national sports federation).

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. “It has become a fashion to indulge in public bashing (of IGU), which isn’t in the right spirit,” he said.