Love, it seems, comes first for this physical trainer.

Jesus Garcia Pallares, the Spanish human performance analyst of the senior Indian hockey team, has sent in his resignation to the Sports Ministry citing marriage as the reason for quitting the job.

“Pallares sent in his resignation to us and Hockey India on Wednesday saying that he had got married and did not want to return to India,” said the ministry’s joint-secretary Prabir Krishn on Wednesday.

“The ministry is planning to take action. How can he leave without serving a notice,” said the ministry official.

Pallares, whose name was recommended by India’s Spanish coach Jose Brasa, had accompanied the team on its 26-day tour of Europe and was scheduled to return with them.

“Pallares sent us a request that he would not be accompanying the team back and that he wanted a 15-day break before resuming his duties. Then, after a fortnight, he sent in his resignation. He was with the team for just over a month and his contract ran till the 2010 Commonwealth Games. We have replaced him with MV Mathai,” said Krishn.

“We didn’t want him to go what with the preparations for the Commonwealth Games in full swing. Hockey India secretary-general Mohammad Aslam was of the opinion that you cannot make an unwilling person work. But the ministry has taken a serious view of it,” said the official.

Pallares was attached with the Spanish national team, which had won gold in the K2 class 500m canoeing event at the Beijing Olympic Games. Krishn said Mathai had been appointed without wasting any time given the fact that the national camp is scheduled to kick off on Friday at Pune.