Choudhary said Engel's removal is part of the way-forward strategy post India's worst performance at the Commonwealth Games, where it managed only a silver in the Glasgow edition in comparison to the record five-medal haul in Delhi four years ago.
"Engel's contract was till the Commonwealth Games but now it has been extended for the Asian Games. However, we have decided not to renew his contract after the Games in Incheon. Though we need to move on with a different approach, I must say Engel gave his best in this one year," Choudhary told PTI on the eve of 44th Inter-Institutional Championships, organised by the Airport Authority of India.
"Foreign coaches are paid handsomely in India. Now we are thinking it is better to hire two professionals for the salary paid to a foreign coach. One coach will be with the junior team and the other with the seniors.
"Change of coach doesn't make much of a difference to the male players, who are anyway playing in Europe," said Choudhary.
"He is a widely respected coach in Europe. But with Indian players, you need to be a lot more strict than how he is. Some of our players don't like to do things on their own, you have to make them work.
"Another aspect was his decision making in Glasgow. He did not play Soumyajit Ghosh at all in the knock-out games. He was one of our main players," said Choudhary.