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"Hated my coach, but stuck with him": Abhinav Bindra on Kumble-Kohli controversy

WION Web Team
New Delhi, Delhi, IndiaUpdated: Jun 21, 2017, 04:10 AM IST
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The air rifle shooter was talking about his consultant coach Uwe Riesterer, who oversaw Bindra's Olympic gold medal moment in Beijing 2008. Photograph:(Zee News Network)

Olympic gold-medallist Abhinav Bindra has waded into the controversy involving Indian cricket coach Anil Kumble and captain Virat Kohli.

Although the 2008 Olympic champion did not directly mention the two people, he tweeted: "My biggest teachers was coach Uwe.I hated him!But stuck with him for 20 years. He always told me things I did not want to hear.#justsaying.”

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The air rifle shooter was talking about his consultant coach Uwe Riesterer, who oversaw Bindra's and Indian sports' seminal moment in Beijing in 2008, when he became the first Indian to win an individual gold at the Olympics.

The tweet has been inferred as an attack on Kohli after the Indian cricket coach Kumble announced on Tuesday that he was stepping down from his current role because his relationship with skipper Kohli had become "untenable".

Reports of a rift between Kohli and Kumble had been swirling for the last one month, but the former had downplayed it on the eve of the Champions Trophy.

But days after the heavy loss to arch rivals Pakistan in the Champions Trophy final, Kumble announced his decision to quit after learning that Virat Kohli's complained that their relationship was beyond repair.

Several media reports suggested that Kohli found Kumble's brand of coaching a bit too assertive.

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Hours after announcing his decision to quit, Kumble put up a statement on Twitter that said: "I was informed for the first time yesterday by the BCCI that the Captain had reservations with my style and about my continuing as the Head Coach. I was surprised since I had always respected the role boundaries between Captain and Coach.

"Though the BCCI attempted to resolve the misunderstandings between the Captain and me, it was apparent that the partnership was untenable, and I therefore, believe it is best for me to move on.

"Professionalism, discipline, commitment, honesty, complementary skills and diverse views are the key traits I bring to the table. These need to be valued for the partnership to be effective. I see the Coach's role akin to 'holding a mirror' to drive self-improvement in the team's interest."

The BCCI invited applications for the role last month and Kumble had re-applied for the same.

In the last one year, the former leg-spinner, also India's most successful bowler, led the country to 12 victories in 17 tests with just one loss.

He also guided India to one-day international series wins over New Zealand and England with losses coming only in a Twenty20 series against the West Indies and in last week's Champions Trophy final, where they lost to Pakistan.

Kumble is also the chairman of the International Cricket Council's cricket committee and has stayed back in London for the world governing body's meeting this week.

He decided not to travel with the Indian side for a limited-overs tour to the West Indies, where they will play a five-match ODI series and a T20 game in the Caribbean starting on June 23.

(With inputs from Reuters)