Hockey India on Wednesday removed Harendra Singh as the head coach of men’s national team after disappointing results at Asian games and hockey world cup. The man from Chhapra has remained the interim coach of the men’s team on three several occasions in the past. There were speculations that Hockey India is planning to remove Harendra from the chief coach role and the speculations finally became a reality after Harendra was removed from the post and was asked to go back to coach junior teams.
India failed to directly qualify for the 2020 Olympics after losing in the semi-final of Asian games 2018 to the hands of low-lying Malaysia. This was a huge blow but the disappointment of losing the world cup quarter final infront of a packed home crowd at kalinga stadium in Bhubaneswar added to the agony of Singh and it was almost certain that Hockey’s national governing body will opt for a new face for which they have allready invited application for chief coach post.
In the interim the team will be overseen by Hockey India High Performance Director, David John and current Analytical Coach, Chris Ciriello.
Hockey India High Performance and Development Committee met on Monday, 7 January 2019 which was attended by Chairman Dr. RP Singh and members including Olympians Harbinder Singh, B.P. Govinda and Syed Ali. The conclusion of the meeting was to re-assign the role of coaching the junior teams to Harendra Singh who was instrumental in nurturing the young Indian colts from 2013-2016 which resulted in India winning the 2016 junior world cup in Lucknow.
