Harendera says that all probables must clear special fitness tests if they are to make it to the national sqaud

HARENDER Singh has been known to have a loquacious personality.

This instance, however, he preferred to avoid the usual non- sequiturs and went straight to the point.

Neither does it bother him that his appointment as coach in charge of the men’s hockey team is more of a stop- gap arrangement by the IOA- run ad hoc committee nor does he worry about the fact that his job may end as soon as they get a foreign coach.

“ As far as I’m concerned, I’ve been handed a very important task and I am not going to bother myself with the nittygritty of my contract or of the IOA’s plans. Right now I am the coach and it’s my job to prepare a team,” Harender Singh told MAIL TODAY . Many in the hockey circle were baffled by IOA’s decision to make Harender the coach. They pointed towards his poor track record as senior coach and also warned of his partial methods of coaching.

“ I can’t stop the critics from talking but as far as the team selection goes, the selectors have given almost every person a chance and I intend to conduct physiological and biomechanical tests on each and every player so as to ensure that all players in the team are fit,” said the former Olympian.

The 48 probables camp will begin at the SAI centre in Bangalore in about two weeks and it seems that Harender is on a mission to separate the wheat from the chaff.

“ We are planning for many big tournaments and I need players who will be able to deliver in 2010. We play three major tournaments that year so these tests will ensure that I get the fittest of the lot. Right now I have been given the charge of handling the team till 2010 and that’s what I will have to prepare for.” Harender, however, did add that he was happy with the players in the probables list and said that these were the best possible choices.

“ Some people were not happy with the initial choices but I figure I have the best players that are in India. I’m particularly pleased with my options in the penalty corner specialists department. Sandeep Singh, Diwaker Ram and Raghunath are probably the best dragflickers in India right now and it will be good to have all three of them at the same time,” Harender added.

NO THREAT FROM RIC

The cricket pundits may be wary of Greg Chappell’s presence in the Australian camp, but Indian hockey may face the same threat soon as India’s former Technical advisor Ric Charlesworth has just been appointed the new chief coach of the Australian hockey team.

“ I realise that he had quite a long stint in India and will be privy to our training methods and functioning. However, I still feel that he won’t do that much damage and frankly what matters is how you perform on that given day and what kind of tactics you employ,” said Harender.

Printed Article: Courtesy Sandeep Narayanan