Paris Olympics 2024: Denied accreditation, India’s archery coach says he won’t continue after contract expiry

Baek Woong Ki, who guided archery South Korea to two gold medals at the 2012 London Olympics,, said he “was removed from the Olympic coaching role at a critical time” and will now be flying back to India with his return ticket already booked.

FILE PHOTO: South Korean coach Baek Woong Ki (L) jubilates as archers South Korean women’s team won the gold in Athens Olympics. | Photo Credit: Getty Images

Livid at being denied accreditation for the Paris Games, India’s Korean archery coach Baek Woong Ki on Saturday said he would not continue after his contract expires on August 30, and lashed out at the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) for “poor and hasty administration”.

Woong Ki, who reached the French capital with the Indian team after overseeing its preparation in Marseille, said he “was removed from the Olympic coaching role at a critical time” and will now be flying back to India with his return ticket already booked.

“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,” the renowned coach said.

He has been staying in a Paris hotel and was awaiting his Games accreditation.

“I have a contract until August 30th and I signed it for the purpose of the Olympics. I plan to arrive at Sonipat and calmly prepare for the formalities of entering Korea,” he added, making it clear that he will not renew his contract.

Woong Ki, who guided archery heavyweights South Korea to two gold medals at the 2012 London Olympics, questioned the logic behind investing on him if he is not to be accommodated with the Indian team.

“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.

“Then 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. I can’t stay near the Olympic practice or competition venues,” said Woong Ki.

The Paris Olympics will be held from July 26 to August 11, and India will be represented by six archers.

The IOA has cleared several personal coaches and support staff in disciplines such as wrestling, table tennis and badminton.

“Good opportunity for India to win a medal,” Woong Ki said his presence would have surely boosted India’s prospects of winning a medal in archery in Paris and termed the Koreans as the strongest opponents.

“I can’t guarantee it. 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.” Woong Ki, who has been in charge of the archery team for more than a year, is contracted by the Archery Association of India (AAI) and funded by the Sports Authority of India (SAI).

During his stint in India, he has played a key role in shaping the team.

“While preparing for the Olympics, I instilled in my archers the practice of avoiding and dealing with situations that may arise during competition. I have experience in the Olympics, having won four gold medals and one silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics and the 2012 London Olympics.” Considering the pressure associated with the Olympics, the coach’s job becomes all the more important, the 62-year-old said.

“No matter how well trained the archers are, the psychological pressure at the Olympics is too great. Therefore, the coach must create conditions in the field where the archers can shoot stably.

“A coach who only calls out scores will miss something important at a critical time. This is a very important time.

“And for the first time in 12 years, India has the opportunity to have three men’s and three women’s teams participating at the same time, which is a good opportunity to win a medal. I will pray for Indian archers to win a medal,” Woong Ki signed off.

The South Korean, who oversaw his country’s double gold medal-winning show in women’s individual and team sections at London Olympics, began his India stint with the World Cup Stage 1 in Antalya, Turkey last April.