The Paul Van Ass saga deepened on Tuesday evening when Hockey India (HI) president Narinder Batra claimed that the disgruntled India coach had the air ticket to return to India from vacations but chose not to.
After breaking the news of his sacking on Monday, Van Ass had said that how could he return to his job when his employer hadn't booked air ticket for the same. The Dutchman, after his stint with the team at FIH Hockey World League semifinals in Belgium, had gone home for a vacation.
But Batra categorically denied Van Ass's version saying that he has the copy of the confirmed ticket, which refutes the coach's claim.
The Indian team is currently in Shilaroo for a fitness camp, but Van Ass said he had no clue about this schedule. "I was never informed about the camp in Shilaroo, so how will I know about it," he told IBNLive from his home in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
When told about Batra's claim about the confirmed ticket, Van Ass said that he had an unconfirmed return ticket with him, but when he received the mail of his sacking from Oltmans, it became insignificant even if HI got it confirmed later.
"I want you to understand that I was fired, then how am I suppose to be in India," he said. "I had an unconfirmed ticket from Europe, but I was sacked five days after the World League semis, which was intimated to me by Oltmans. They may have got the ticket confirmed after that," Van Ass explained his stand.
"I am not after any revenge or point fingers at Hockey India. I just want to say again that I didn't quit, I was fired."
While we wait to hear from Van Ass's real employers, Sports Authority of India, about any communication they may have had with Van Ass, the all-important HI meeting on Friday may spill some more beans on the saga.
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