Oltmans Open to India Consultancy Amidst Asia Cup

Rajgir, Bihar, Sep 3 (PTI) — Roelant Oltmans, the legendary Dutch hockey coach and former High Performance Director for India's men's team, has expressed interest in working in India again, but only in a consulting capacity. At 71, Oltmans is steering clear of full-time assignments, opting instead for short-term engagements.

Oltmans, who spent five years with the Indian team—first as High Performance Director and then as head coach—was let go in 2017 following poor performances, most notably a disappointing sixth-place finish at the Hockey World League semifinals in London.

Upon his departure, Oltmans remarked that working in India, particularly in sports, poses unique challenges. Currently in India for the men's Asia Cup with the Chinese team, he mentioned he leans towards shorter consultancy roles than full-time commitments.

"Full-time coaching demands long tours and contracts, which I'm not inclined towards now. I am concentrating on short-term assignments," Oltmans shared with PTI during the tournament.

When asked about a possible return to India in a consultant role, he replied, "You never know, you never know." Oltmans first came to India in 2013, playing a key role in grassroots development, and later became head coach in 2015 until his 2017 dismissal.

His coaching journey has also taken him to Malaysia, Pakistan, and currently China, where he is assisting the Dutch coach Michel van den Heuvel.

"Michel is the sole coach; I'm just here to support him in this tournament. I'm tasked with scouting players," Oltmans clarified.

China, ranked 22nd globally, showcased significant progress against higher-ranked India, narrowly losing 3-4 in their Asia Cup opener. Oltmans downplayed global rankings, emphasizing that China's advancements signal their potential as a formidable force by the 2032 Olympics.

"Though changes take time, under Van den Heuvel's guidance, China has improved since the last Asian Champions Trophy. The progress is evident as they scored three goals against India, opposed to none previously," Oltmans observed.

China's head coach on record is Australia's Anthony Farry, yet Van den Heuvel currently assumes the forefront role.

Oltmans sees India as the clear favorites for the Asia Cup but chose not to discuss Indian hockey further.

His abrupt departure from the Pakistani team last year, just before the Asian Champions Trophy, was marred by a short-term contract disagreement, leaving him disinclined to return.

"I won't work with Pakistan again. Our dealings concluded amicably, though it required patience," concluded Oltmans.

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