Day hockey matches in CWG crazy: Charlesworth

Jul 29, 2010 |

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Melbourne, Jul 29: The Indian hockey team's former technical adviser and current Australia coach Ric Charlesworth today lambasted the Delhi Commonwealth Games organisers, calling them "crazy" and "disrespectful" for scheduling matches in the middle of the day.

"We will have to play in very hot weather with 16 players, it's nuts and I find it extraordinary," Charlesworth told the Australian Associated Press (AAP).

"They wouldn't run the marathon in the middle of the day - it is crazy and disrespectful," he added.

Charlesworth had a controversy-ridden tenure with the Indian hockey team and walked out of the job after a major stand-off with the administrators there. The highly-rated Aussie, who guided his country to the World Cup title earlier this year, said given the scheduling of the Games, his players would be forced to slog it out in the punishing Delhi heat.

"My experience (of Delhi) has not been good, the grounds will be fine, but the problem is we will be playing in the middle of the day and that is unfair," he said.

"Who knows how the people who organise these things think, it is OK if you are playing netball inside but not for our sport," he said. Charlesworth said he would have to make selection adjustments due to the scheduling of matches.

"We have had to make adjustments to our selection process for the Commonwealth Games because of the conditions and in my opinion that is wrong and it does a disservice to the game and the players."

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