Harendra Singh appointed as head coach of Indian women’s hockey team: A new era begins

Harendra Singh Takes Over as Head Coach of Indian Women’s Hockey Team

In a surprising turn of events, Harendra Singh has been appointed as the head coach of the Indian women’s hockey team following Janneke Schopman’s resignation. The Dronacharya award winner, who has a wealth of experience coaching various Indian teams, including the senior men and women, has returned to take charge of the women’s team.

Harendra, who most recently coached the USA men’s hockey team, has wasted no time in getting down to business. He has already begun the process of selecting a core group of players from the assessment squad, trimming it down from 60 to 33 during recent trials.

With many of the support staff also leaving along with Schopman, Harendra is now tasked with putting together a new team to support the women’s squad. However, an official announcement from Hockey India has been delayed due to the Model Code of Conduct in place for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

Harendra’s track record speaks for itself, with India winning 11 gold medals under his coaching, including the 2016 men’s junior World Cup, 2017 women’s Asia Cup, and 2018 Asian Champions Trophy for men. Despite facing challenges during his tenure as the senior men’s coach, Harendra has always been passionate about coaching in India.

Now, with the responsibility of leading the women’s team until the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Harendra faces the daunting task of rebuilding the team and restoring faith in women’s hockey. With recent controversies and disappointments plaguing the team, Harendra will need to work tirelessly to bring success back to Indian women’s hockey.