Pak Dutch hockey coach resigns after not getting paid for 12 months

KARACHI, MAY 20

(PTI): Pakistan’s Dutch hockey coach, Siegfried Aikman has resigned from his post after not getting paid for the last 12 months.

Aikman, who had joined the national team last year, took to social media to announce he had officially resigned as head coach.

Though Aikman had returned home from Pakistan late last year over a salary dispute, he didn’t relinquish the post waiting for his arrears to be cleared. But with no resolution in sight, he has decided to resign. Around the time Aikman sent in his resignation to the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), another Dutch coach, Roelant Oltmans, arrived in Pakistan and will fly out with the national junior squad to Muscat for the Asia Junior Cup on Sunday night.

PHF confirmed that Oltmans had arrived in Lahore and taken charge of the junior team for the continental event.

PHF has not indicated who will pay Oltman’s salary or whether Aikman’s dues will be cleared.

Aikman had been hired by PHF after the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) said it would pay the Dutch coach’s salary. A standoff between the PHF and PSB over elections and constitutional issues led to a situation where the state-controlled body has stopped funding to the PHF.

That the 19-year-old dropped just one point from 15 arrows en route to defeating the two-time former world champion showed his incredible shooting at the highest level.

The one-point miss came in the first end as both the archers remained neck and neck after starting off with 29-all.

Second, third and fourth ends saw both of them hitting the target at ease before the 29-year-old Dutchman finally faltered in the fifth end, capping a 9 to hand the Indian teenager his first World Cup gold.

Continuing its dream run, India’s compound mixed team duo of Deotale and Jyothi earlier shocked heavyweights Korea to grab successive World Cup gold medals.

The pair carried forward its new-found chemistry and shot with composure to pip the top-seeded Korean team 156-155.

Both the Indian duo and the seasoned Korean pair of Kim Jongho and Oh Yoohyun shot identical 39s out of 40 in each of the first three ends. In the final end the Koreans cracked under pressure as Deotale and Jyothi came up with a 39 again to seal their back-to-back World Cup gold medals.

Having made an early exit in the individual section, Jyothi had a perfect start to the final, even as her 20-year-old partner struggled for a perfect 10.

Ojas, however, complemented well and brought out his best when Jyothi missed the 10 a couple of times, as the duo showed perfect chemistry at the highest level.

Locked 117-117 heading into the final end, Jyothi shot a 10 with her final arrow, while a measurement was needed on Oh Yoohyun’s final arrow to confirm the Indians’ victory.

“Throughout the World Cup, our co-ordination and shooting process were very good. And in the final too, we focused on our shooting process,” Jyothi said.

LONDON, MAY 20

(IANS): Ahead of their much-awaited Ashes series against Australia, veteran pacer James Anderson has claimed that England are operating at an extremely high level and nobody in the world can cope with them while praising the leadership abilities of Ben Stokes.

England have had a turnaround in their fortunes since New Zealander Brendon McCullum became the head coach and Stokes took over the leadership. They have played an aggressive brand of cricket termed as ‘’

Anderson also was full of praise for Stokes’ abDilities as a leader, hailing him as the finest of the eight Test captains he has operated under.

Elaborating on Stokes’ traits, Anderson stated, “I think he’s been spot on so far. I can’t fault anything really. I think everyone knew that he was a leader, the way he trains, whether it’s the gym or whether it’s catching or batting or bowling the way he goes about his business -- he is the ultimate professional; a born leader.

“[But] for me, it’s the finer details, not just on the field where his tactical nous has been spot on, but also his emotional intelligence off the field and how he talks to everyone in the group. If he needs to put his arm around someone or fire someone up, he’s just got a really good way of doing that. So I’ve been really impressed,” he added.

Sexual harassment complaint filed against SAI Assam coach

The matter was further referred to the internal committee of the nodal sports body’s regional centre, and a probe has already started.

GUWAHATI, MAY 20 ( PTI): Athletes of the SAI Training Centre in Solalgaon have filed an FIR against the in-charge and swimming coach, Mrinal Basumatary, accusing him of sexual harassment.

Most of the athletes are minor girls, the Sports Authority of India stated in a release as a complaint was lodged at the Paltan Bazar Police Station here on Thursday taking into account the “gravity of the matter”.

“As SAI adopts zero tolerance policy towards sexual harassment cases, the same will be followed up so as to ensure that justice is delivered to our athletes,” SAI stated in the release.

The matter was brought to light by some athletes of SAI, STC Solalgaon and their coach on the sidelines of selection trials in Guwahati.