Charlesworth calls it a day

New Delhi, July 10: India’s hockey consultant Ric Charlesworth on Thursday left for Melbourne having resigned from his high-profile job on the grounds that there was ambiguity over his role in the country’s hockey set up.

Ad-hoc selection panel chairman Aslam Sher Khan said that Charlesworth, who was expected to be in Hyderabad during the Junior Asia Cup that kicks off on Friday, left for his country Australia saying that he would return only when the ambiguity over his role is cleared by the hockey authorities.

"He (Charlesworth) has left for Melbourne and said that he will think again about his assignment with Indian hockey only after settling his exact role in India," Aslam said from Hyderabad. "We wanted to take his services but he said he will work with us only after getting a clear picture about his contract and role. We had three meetings with him but we cannot assure him of anything because his contract is not with us," he added.

Aslam clarified that the ad-hoc committee had no power to decide on Charlesworth’s role as the Australian’s contract is with Sports Authority of India, the dissolved Indian Hockey Federation and the Indian Women’s Hockey Federation. — PTI

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Pune to play host

Hyderabad, July 10: The World Junior Badminton Championship this year will be held in Pune from October 24 to November 2. Sports company NEB Sports, along with Badminton Association of India, will be hosting the meet.

The annual championship consists of two separate events — a team event (October 24 to 27) followed by an individual event (October 29 to November 2).

"The meet is a curtain raiser for next year’s World Badminton Championship, the biggest badminton event to be held in India," National Coach Pulela Gopichand said. — PTI