KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 3: India have put their faith in renowned coach Ric Charlesworth to steer them back to glory, but the former Australian captain said he believed the side would peak only by the 2010 World Cup.

In October the 54-year-old was signed up as a technical advisor by the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), which is desperate to have the eight-time champions qualify for next year’s Beijing Olympics.

But Charlesworth, speaking at the ongoing Champions Trophy in Kuala Lumpur where he is an observer, said he hoped to see India reach Beijing but was more interested in long-term goals.

“Well, the qualifiers are the important short-term aim. And there is a whole range of things that are already in place, and a structure that is in place that will carry India either to the Olympics or not. But that is only a short term (aim),” he told AFP.

“My task is about looking further than that. And hopefully putting in place something that will give sustainable quality.”—AFP