New Delhi(Agencies): The
Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) is set to terminate the services of women's
coach Andrew Cook for his refusal to participate in SAI's online sessions for
non-payment of salary, a claim refuted by the American.
Cook had left for Seattle
after the national camp for women wrestlers in Lucknow was suspended in March
owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to WFI, Cook was
recently contacted by Sports Authority of India (SAI) officials for attending
sessions such as E-Pathshala, but the American allegedly told them that unless
he receives his pending salary, he won't attend them.
When he left for the US on
March 17, he said that SAI had held back half of his salary.
"This behaviour is not
acceptable. It shows that Cook works only for salary and is not passionate
about Indian wrestling. The SAI officials showed us the screenshots of his
refusal messages," WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar told PTI.
"After that we told Cook
to attend sessions and assured him that his salary will be cleared. He did
participate in a few sessions but we did not like his behaviour."
"We discussed it among
ourselves and also asked our wrestlers if they really need him. The wrestlers
told us that he is not indispensable, so we have decided to terminate his
services with immediate effect. We will send him the letter."
Cook was hired by SAI on the
recommendation of WFI in September 2018 and he joined the camp in early 2019.
The American confirmed to PTI
that SAI has now cleared his pending dues. He received full salary for the
months of March, April and May two days ago.
Cook, though, said he was
regularly in touch with the wrestlers and SAI coaches.
"I have been running
sessions since the beginning of May for the National Centre of Excellence
(NCOE) everyday at 6pm (6:30am in America). I wonder what they are talking
about," Cook said from Seattle.
"Since the beginning of
May, I have run sessions five days a week, so l have run about 30
sessions."
SAI coaches who were also part
of those sessions confirmed that Cook indeed was in attendance.
"He did participate. He
regularly guided cadet and junior coaches, and sometimes seniors such as Sarita
Mor and Pinki also attended his sessions. Honestly, he is a good coach and if
WFI or SAI do not want him for seniors he can be kept for juniors. His inputs
are good," said a SAI coach who did not wish to be named.
Cook felt that neither the SAI
nor the WFI like the fact he spoke to media about his salary issues and has
thus paid the price. Cook's contract was till August 2020 at a monthly salary
of $4,500.
The WFI had also sacked men's
freestyle coach Hossein Karimi in October 2019, just six months into his
tenure, claiming that the Iranian brought with himself a VIP culture which
cannot be followed in India.
India is now left with only
one foreign coach, Georgia's Temo Gabishvili, who is attached with the
Greco-Roman wrestlers.
"We have no issues with
Temo. He never created any trouble over his salary. He will continue to work
with us," said Tomar.
The WFI also informed that the
SAI has extended the contracts of about 15 Indian coaches, including men's
freestyle coach Jagmender Singh, till July 31, 2021. — PTI
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