Harendra removed as men’s team coach
NEW DELHI: In what is being seen as a fallout of the Indian hockey team’s dismal performance at the Asian Games in Jakarta and the quarter-final loss to the Netherlands in the FIH World Cup in Bhubaneswar late last year, senior men’s team coach Harendra Singh has been shown the door and Hockey India (HI) has started the hunt for a new coach.
In a press release on Wednesday, Hockey India’s High Performance and Development Committee “advised” Harendra --- who took over from Dutchman Sjoerd Marijne in May after the Commonwealth Games debacle --- to coach the Indian junior men’s team.
“With a vision to building a strong player base ahead of the 2021 Junior World Cup and the 2020, 2024 Olympic Games, the committee has recommended to reassign Harendra as coach of the junior men’s team.”
“The rise of some of India’s top junior players under the tutelage of Harendra and his ability to groom youngsters have been the key reasons for the Hockey India think-tank to arrive at this recommendation,” said the release. Harendra had guided the colts to the junior World Cup title in Lucknow in 2016.
“Though 2018 was very disappointing for the Indian men’s team with results not going as expected, Hockey India believes in investing in the junior programme, which will reap longterm benefits,” said the Hockey India statement.
“In the meanwhile, Hockey India will advertise and invite applications for the position of chief coach of the team, which will be returning to the training camp in February for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in March. In the interim, the team will be overseen by Hockey India high performance director, David John, and analytical coach, Chris Ciriello,” the statement added.