New Delhi: Indian national archery team’s coach Baek Woong Ki has announced his intention to leave after Paris Olympics after being denied accreditation for the Games.
The South Korean oversaw the team’s preparation in Marseille before moving with the team to Paris, where he found out to have been removed from the coaching role with a return ticket booked for India.
“I am a Korean coach who signed a contract to prepare (the Indian archers) for the Paris Olympics. But at a critical time, I was removed from the Olympic coaching role and my flight schedule told me to return home,” Woong Ki said, as quoted by PTI.
“I have a contract until August 30th and I signed it for the purpose of the Olympics. I plan to arrive at Sonipat and calmly prepare for the formalities of entering Korea.”
Woong Ki waited in a Paris hotel hoping to get accreditation but blamed the Indian Olympic Association for “hitting a notch” on the purpose of winning medals for which he was brought in.
“I have been training them (Indian archers) for two years to win a medal at the Paris Olympics. However, foreign coaches were excluded due to the IOA’s poor and hasty administration.
“Then I don’t know why they invested money to appoint a Korean coach. More importantly, it’s hitting a major notch just days before the Olympics. I can’t stay near the Olympic practice or competition venues,” he said.
Six Indian archers will compete in Paris Games that will begin in July 26 and stretch till August 11 for which the IOA has already cleared personal coaches and support staff for mutiples disciplines.
Under Woong Ki’s guidance Korea won two archery gold medals in women’s individual and team sections at 2012 London Olympics. He began his stint in India at the World Cup Stage 1 in Antalya, Turkey in April of last year.
He viewed Korea as the most formidable opponents but backed India to get at least a medal.
“And for the first time in 12 years, India has the opportunity to have three men’s and three women’s teams participating at the same time, which is a good opportunity to win a medal. I will pray for Indian archers to win a medal,” Woong Ki said.
Baek Woong Ki oversaw the archery team’s preparation in Marseille before moving to Paris, where he found out to have been removed from the coaching role with a return ticket booked for India. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
