New Delhi: In yet another coaching reshuffle in Indian hockey, the national men’s and the women’s hockey teams’ head coaches Sjoerd Marijne and Harendra Singh have been asked to swap sides, Hockey India (HI) announced Tuesday.
The announcement comes after both the men’s and the women’s teams failed to grab a medal at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April. This means 44-year-old Dutchman Marijne has returned to the women’s team which he had left in September after being six months in charge.
Hockey India (HI) secretary general Mohd Mushtaque Ahmed said, “Harendra Singh brings with himself wealth of experience and has previously managed a lot of the men’s team players during his stints in the Hockey India League and with the junior teams. While, Marijne’s first stint with the Women’s team was a very successful one and we are sure he will continue to do well with this team as he has done in the past.”
Marijne, urged by HI to accelerate the growth of a talented young generation, saw the team change a lot of players. His team saw the axing of some of the seniors like Sardar Singh and Ramandeep Singh. Under Marijne, India retained the Asia Cup and clinched the bronze medal in the Hockey World League (HWL) Final in late 2017. However, his team finished fourth in the CWG. Experts questioned the changing of players in a crucial year for the Indian team.
It will also be a return to the men’s coaching top post for former international Harendra, who worked as head coach between 2009 and 2011. He also led the junior men’s team to World Cup glory during an eight-month stint. Harendra’s most important contribution to the women’s team was leading them to the Asia Cup title in Japan last year.
“It is an honour for me to now manage the Indian men’s hockey team. It has been a very satisfying journey with the Indian Women’s Hockey team and I would like to thank Hockey India for entrusting me with the new role,” he said.
