New Delhi: Former captain Sardar Singh has been included in a 13-member Hockey India (HI) selection committee, to be headed by BP Govinda, a member of the 1975 World Cup-winning team. Sardar had retired after a disappointing show by India in the 2018 Asian Games.
“Yes, I was offered the role and I accepted it. It is a new challenge for me and I am always eager to serve Indian hockey in any way I can,” Sardar told this agency late Tuesday evening.
“It’s a completely different challenge and an exciting one. All these years I served as a player now I got the opportunity to serve from the other side of the table,” Sardar added.
The selection committee also includes Harbinder Singh, Syed Ali, AB Subbaiah, RP Singh, Rajnish Mishra, Joydeep Kaur, Surender Kaur, Asunta Lakra, high performance director David John and chief coaches of the senior men’s and women’s teams.
Sardar very well knows what it takes to build a team and pointed out that any day he would prefer experience over youth.
“I have been player for the past two decades and I know what is important for a team. Youth can never replace experience. What I feel is that any good team are a balance of youth and experience. Look at Belgium,” he pointed out.
“As a selector my approach would be the same. I would always vouch for experience but at the same time will like to see good youngsters in the team. India need experienced players like PR Sreejesh, Rupinder Pal Singh and SV Sunil to guide the youngsters till the 2020 Tokyo Olympics,” added the former Indian captain.
Harendra Singh had a major role to play in reviving Sardar’s career and the former captain said the sacked India coach wasn’t given enough time to prove his worth with the senior national side.
“I think it was not a wise decision. Harendra (bhai) is one of the best coaches of India. I think we didn’t give him enough time. In the 4-5 tournaments with the senior side he managed three podium finishes for India. “I think any coach needs at least four years to build a team and get desired results,” Sardar asserted.
PTI
