Harendra aims high with junior hockey team
Rohan Puri,TNN
NEW DELHI: Harendra Singh, the newly appointed coach of the junior men’s hockey team, said on Tuesday he expected the team to be among the top four in the world by 2016.
“A top-eight finish is the target of the senior team, so a player in the junior team must aim for the final in the 2016 World Cup. For me, this team should be among the top four in the world by the end of two years. This is a realistic target,” Harendra told TOI on Tuesday.
“This team has to be groomed keeping in mind both short-term and long-term goals. But it’s a slow, step-by-step process. We have to make the team capable enough to beat any team in the world. A No.10 team can’t jump to No.1. So my aim is to ensure the team improves each and every month,” said Singh, who started his coaching career in 1998 and has a total coaching experience of 379 matches. His achievements as a coach include eight gold medals with senior and junior teams, five silver and nine bronze in various international tournaments.
Singh, who has a two-year contract with the team, said there is an enormous talent pool in the country. “I am impressed with the level of talent in the country. With scientific support and help from Terry Walsh and Roelant Oltmans, we can groom a good team for the future,” he said.
Hockey India (HI) has decided not to hire a chief coach for the junior team this time. Singh will be in charge of the current junior team along with BJ Kariappa.