CHENNAI:National men’s freestyle coach Vinod Kumar, who was sacked by Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) for the team’s poor show in Asian Championship among other reasons, said the federation disrespected him by sending him off the national camp without issuing notice. The services of Vinod Kumar and two other coaches were terminated by the federation on Thursday.
“I came to the national camp in 2007 and became the chief coach in 2010. Under me the wrestlers won two Olympic medals and a couple of World Championship medals. Behind the performance of Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt, I played an important role. The federation had to consider all these before sacking me without prior intimation,” said the Dhyan Chand awardee.
“I won’t have a problem if they decide to bring another person as chief coach. But the way they have done it, it’s paining,” he added.
According to the coach, he was denied a chance to justify his chance and the federation took action in a jiffy. “It came as a shock as I got to know about it from the inmates of Sonepat camp.”
“I don’t understand the logic behind axing a coach for his team’s poor show in a single event. I had proven myself and there are results for me to show,” he added.
Meanwhile, it’s reliably learnt that just after Vinod’s sacking news appeared in the media, several wrestling stars contacted the federation seeking clarification.
“Yogeshwar and Sushil called up the officials to know the reason. Though the poor show in Doha was cited, some disciplinary issues and the state of affairs at the Sonepat also contributed to his ouster. Those were also conveyed to the Olympians,” the source revealed.
Women’s coach Ramani Chanu got the axe since she was not able to maintain discipline at the Lucknow camp. Fifteen wrestlers were also thrown out from the camps.