Furious at being denied accreditation for the Paris Games, India’s Korean archery coach Baek Woong Ki said on Saturday he would not continue after his contract expires on August 30, and lashed out at the Indian Olympic Association ( IOA) for “poor and hasty administration”. . Woong Ki, who arrived in the French capital with the Indian team after overseeing its preparations in Marseille, said he “was removed from his role as Olympic coach at a critical time” and will now fly back to India with his return ticket already booked.
“I am a Korean coach who has signed a contract to prepare (Indian archers) for the Paris Olympics. But at a critical moment, I was removed from my role as Olympic coach and my flight schedule told me to return home,” said the renowned coach. he said.
He is staying in a hotel in Paris and awaiting accreditation for the Games.
“I have a contract until August 30th and I signed it for the Olympics. I intend to reach Sonipat and calmly prepare for the formalities of entering Korea,” he added, making it clear that he will not renew the contract.
Woong Ki, who guided archery heavyweights South Korea to two gold medals at the 2012 London Olympics, questioned the logic behind investing in him if he does not want to be accommodated in the Indian team.
“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 poor and hasty management of the IOA.
“So I don’t know why they invested money to appoint a Korean coach. More importantly, it’s reaching an important level just days before the Olympics. I can’t be close to the Olympic training or competition venues,” said Woong Ki.
The Paris Olympics will be held from July 26 to August 11, and India will be represented by six archers.
The IOA has released a number of personal trainers and support staff in disciplines such as wrestling, table tennis and badminton.
Good opportunity for India to win a medal
Woong Ki said his presence would certainly have boosted India’s prospects of winning an archery medal in Paris and termed the Koreans as the strongest opponents.
“I can’t guarantee it. Korean archers are strong in the competition. If Korea and India play in the final, there is a 90% chance that they will lose, but if I enter the coach’s box, the Korean archers will feel more tension and pressure from me cause.
“Therefore, India’s chances of victory increase.” Woong Ki, who has been in charge of the archery team for over a year, is employed by the Archery Association of India (AAI) and funded by the Sports Authority of India (SAI).
During his time in India, he played a key role in shaping the team.
“During preparation for the Olympics, I instilled in my archers the practice of avoiding and dealing with situations that may arise during competition. I have experience in the Olympics, having won four gold medals and one silver at the 2004 Athens Olympics and the 2012 London Olympics.” Considering the pressure associated with the Olympics, the coach’s job becomes even more important, he said. the 62-year-old coach.
“No matter how well trained the archers are, the psychological pressure at the Olympics is very great. Therefore, the coach must create conditions on the field where archers can shoot with stability.
“A coach who only announces results will miss something important at a critical moment. This is a very important moment.
“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 that Indian archers win a medal,” Woong Ki hung up.
The South Korean, who oversaw his country’s double gold medal haul in the women’s individual and team sections at the London Olympics, began his stint with India in Stage 1 of the World Cup in Antalya, Turkey, last April.
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