Credit: X
Baek Woong Ki, the coach of the Indian archery team, who hails from South Korea, felt outraged after he was denied accreditation for Paris 2024. He was very aggrieved at the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) for “poor and hasty administration , ” while revealing his intention to quit from the Indian archery coach role after his contract expires on August 30.
The Indian Express reported that Baek Woong Ki reached Paris with the Indian archery team after helping them prepare in Marseille, waiting for his accreditation for the Olympics. But, to his surprise, he was removed from the coaching role at a critical time while his return ticket to India was already booked.
India’s Archery coach outraged at IOA for Paris Olympics snub
In his interview with PTI, Baek Woong Ki said, “I am a Korean coach who signed a contract to prepare (the Indian archers) for the Paris Olympics. But at a critical time, I was removed from the Olympic coaching role and my flight schedule told me to return home.”
“I have a contract until August 30 and I signed it for the Olympics. I plan to arrive at Sonipat and calmly prepare for the formalities of entering Korea,” he added before clarifying his plan to not renew his contract with Indian Archery once it expires.
If Korea and India play in the final, there is a 90% chance India will lose: Baek Woong Ki
Baek Woong Ki also spoke in detail about what went down with him and the Indian officials after signing up for the archery coach role two years ago. He remarked, “I have been training them (Indian archers) for two years to win a medal at the Paris Olympics. However, foreign coaches were excluded due to the IOA’s poor and hasty administration. I don’t know why they invested money to appoint a Korean coach. More importantly, it’s hitting a major notch just days before the Olympics.”
“Korean archers are strong in competition. If Korea and India play in the final, there is a 90% chance they will lose, but if I enter the coach’s box, the Korean archers will feel more tension and pressure because of me. Therefore, India’s chances of winning increase,” stated Baek Woong Ki about how the Indian archers could win a medal for the first time on the Olympic stage.
