Harendra Singh, the chief coach of the Indian women's hockey team, has stepped down from his position due to personal reasons. He took charge in April last year and led the team to victory in the Asian
Champions Trophy in Rajgir.
However, under his leadership, the team was relegated from the FIH Pro League after finishing last in the 2024-25 season.
"Coaching the Indian women's hockey team has been a privilege that has been a highlight of my career. Though personal reasons call me to step away, my heart remains with this extraordinary team and their ongoing success," Harendra stated in a Hockey India release. Before this role, he was the United States men's hockey team's tactician.
Hockey India's Response
Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey accepted Harendra's resignation, acknowledging his dedication. Tirkey praised Harendra for guiding India's junior men's team to win the 2016 FIH Junior World Cup in Lucknow. "We thank Harendra Singh for his services and his exemplary experience. His commitment towards the development of Indian Hockey is well-known across the hockey community across the world," said Tirkey.
Despite some player complaints about Harendra's strict approach, Tirkey clarified that these were not related to his resignation. He assured that a new coach would be appointed soon and wished Harendra well for his future endeavours.
Potential Successor
The team's performance in the FIH 2024-25 season was disappointing for Harendra. They managed only two wins out of 16 matches and failed to qualify for the next season. A Hockey India source mentioned that Harendra was asked to resign due to these performance issues.
Challenges Faced
The source highlighted that despite fulfilling all of Harendra's requests, the team's results did not meet expectations over the past year and a half. Additionally, fitness concerns were raised as 13 core players are currently injured.
Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh extended his best wishes to Harendra Singh. "We extend our support to Harendra Singh and his contributions to the team. We wish him the very best and further continue to ensure the Indian women's teams preparations will continue as planned for the World Cup Qualifiers," he said.
Harendra expressed gratitude for his journey with Hockey India and pledged continued support for their efforts to elevate Indian hockey's global standing.
With inputs from PTI
