TTFI hunts for one more foreign coach

Aiming for no less than half-a-dozen medals at the Delhi Commonwealth Games in 2010, the Table Tennis Federation of India...

Aiming for no less than half-a-dozen medals at the Delhi Commonwealth Games in 2010, the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) is keen to have a second foreign coach by the next month. It’s another matter that the sport’s national body is yet to think of a specific role for him.

India already have a foreign coach in Aleksey Yefremov of Belarus, who has been working with the senior national team for the past one year. However, with the sports ministry recently increasing the cap for foreign coaches to $5000 per month under the Commonwealth Games scheme, the federation has found they can now afford separate coaches for the men’s and women’s teams.

“In all likelihood, we’ll have one more (foreign) coach by January,” TTFI secretary general MC Chauhan told The Indian Express. “We are aiming for six medals at the Games. For that, we need separate coaches for the men’s and women’s teams. On the recommendation of the international federation, we have forwarded two names, both Europeans — one Swedish and another Italian — to the ministry. We expect them to finalise one of them by next month.”

As regards his role — would he be in-charge of the men’s or women’s team, and would he supersede or assist the current coach — Chauhan said the federation was yet to take a decision on it. “We haven’t decided that as yet. He will probably work with the women’s team. Then again, nothing is final. We might even send Aleksey to train our junior team.”

Dedicated coach

For his part, Yefremov strongly presented his case to keep working with the men’s team. “Preferably we should have a dedicated coach for our women’s team. I’ve been working closely with the men’s team for one year now. I know them inside out — there game, their strengths and weaknesses, their attitude. They also have confidence in me.

“Now if a new fellow comes in my position, it will take him some time to adjust with them and know their ways. With only a year-and-a-half to go for the Commonwealth Games, precious time could be lost,” he cautioned.

It’s not that the federation is not aware of that. Just that they are taking a trifle too long to make a final decision — it’s been a month since the process has been under way. “We’ll take a decision soon, keeping in view the best interests of our players,” said Chauhan. “We’ll take their feedback. Ultimately, they are the best judges,” he added.