Pargat Singh, Chairman, Development Committee, Hockey India, held a meeting today in Delhi. The committee has decided to initiate the process of selecting coaches and coaching staff for both men and women teams.

It will call Indian aspirants for coaching and support staff to present their credentials on January 22 and 23.

Accordingly to a Hockey India press release, the same will be done with respect to foreign coaches subsequently.

Pargat relies on his time-tested friends to accomplish his taks, it seems

Sukhbir Singh Grewal, who played for India in the late 70s including 1978 World Cup has been nominated as Director of Coaching and Development for both men and women. Sukhbir was the Assistant coach to Balkrishen when India won the 1991 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup and also when India fared badly at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics under the captaincy of Pargat Singh.

Harpreet Singh, Pargat Singh’s peer in the Punjab Police, whom Pargat Singh made team captain in 1997 when Pargat was coach of the national team once, comes into the Selection Committee.

Col.Balbir Singh and Sita Mehta retain their slots in the new selection committee while others include Syed Ali,
Rekha Bhide,
Rajbir Kaur,
Manohar Topno,
Thoiba Singh,
Harpreet Singh,
AB Subbaiah and Anil Aldrin

It is interesting coincidence that Manohar Topno and Pargat paired well in the defence in the mid 80s, while Anil Aldrin played along side Pargat in the defence line in the mid 90s.

Also, Harpreet and Subbaiah also played with Pargat Singh in various spells in the 90s.

In a nutshell, except Col.Balbir Singh of 1968 Olympics, other men in the selection committee played with Pargat in his long career.