Coach controversy unnecessary, says AAI

New Delhi, July 22

The Archery Association of India (AAI) has strongly reacted to foreign coach Baek Woong Ki going public after he was denied accreditation for the Paris Olympics. AAI secretary general Virender Sachdeva told The Tribune that they had requested the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to include his name.

“The rule is clear that the support staff will be 33 per cent of the participating athletes. All this controversy is needless as we had written to IOA to get his name included,” Sachdeva said. “The majority of the archers were of the opinion that the Indian coaches are more important. Our job is to service the needs of the archers,” he added.

The AAI was hit with another controversy recently. A story suggested that physiotherapist Arvind Yadav was tainted — there was a complaint against Yadav for “inappropriate approach” by a Canadian archer during the Youth World Championships last year. “Nothing was found against him. I do not want to say much here except we are three days away from the competition and we should be helping the team do well rather than trying to disturb the team,” he said.