New Delhi [India]: Hockey India on Tuesday appointed Harinder Singh as the new chief coach of the Indian men’s hockey team while Dutchman Sjoerd Marijne has been sent back to manage the women’s side.
The move to switch the coaches came after both men’s and women’s team failed to clinch medals in the recently-concluded 21st edition of the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.
Announcing the news, Hockey India secretary general Mohd Mushtaque Ahmed said, “Harendra Singh brings with himself a wealth of experience and has previously managed a lot of the Men’s team players during his stints in the Hockey India League and with the Junior teams. While, Marijne’s first stint with the Women’s team was a very successful one and we are sure he will continue to do well with this team as he has done in the past.”
Meanwhile, both Sjoerd Marine and Harendra Singh expressed their satisfaction on the new roles assigned to them.
“I’m excited to reunite with the Women’s team and will look to focus building on the good form exhibited by the team in last six months as we look forward to the Vitality Women’s Hockey World Cup 2018,” said Marijne.
Harendra said, “It is an honour for me to now manage the Indian Men’s Hockey team. It has been a very satisfying journey with the Indian Women’s Hockey team and I would like to thank Hockey India for entrusting me with the new role as we prepare ourselves for a very important season ahead.”
Harendra, who led the Indian Junior Men’s Hockey team to the Uttar Pradesh Hockey Junior World Cup Lucknow 2016 title, was earlier named as the chief coach of the women’s team in September 2017 and saw his team finish at the fourth position in the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
His most important contribution was leading the women’s team to the 9th Women’s Asia Cup title in Japan last year.
Under Marijne, the Indian men’s hockey team made a disappointing fifth-place finish in Gold Coast, thus returning without a medal for the first time since the 2006 CWG.
He, however, had formed a formidable unit with the Indian women’s hockey team during his first stint. The women’s team had an impressive run qualifying for the Hockey World League Semi-Final during his tenure.
Before joining the Indian women’s team, Marijne had a successful tenure with the Netherlands’ women’s team.
His first event with the Indian women’s team will be the 5th Women’s Asian Champions Trophy in Korea, starting on May 13. (ANI)