Harendra Singh Appointed as Coach of Indian Women’s Hockey Team Until 2028 Olympics

Former Indian hockey player and Dronacharya awardee Harendra Singh has been selected by Hockey India as the coach of the senior national women’s hockey team. He will replace Janneke Schopman, a former Dutch hockey player, who resigned last month as the coach of the national women’s team after the Indian team failed to qualify for the Paris Olympics 2024.

Harendra Singh’s Career

• Harendra Singh started his coaching career with the French club HC Lyon’s junior team in 1995.
• He was appointed head coach of the Indian men’s junior team in 2014 and successfully coached them to win the 2016 men’s Junior World Cup in Lucknow.
• Hockey India appointed Harendra Singh as the coach of the senior national women’s team in 2017, and under his guidance, the team won the gold medal at the 2017 Asia Cup.
• Harendra Singh was later appointed as the coach of the senior men’s national team in 2018, but a series of poor performances led to his removal by Hockey India in January 2019.
• After being removed by Hockey India, Harendra Singh became the head coach of the United States men’s national hockey team in 2021.

Appointment Until 2028 Olympics

• According to a newspaper report, Harendra Singh will be appointed as the coach of the senior national women’s hockey team until the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
• Hockey India has not made any formal announcement regarding the appointment due to the ongoing model code of conduct for the Lok Sabha elections.

Indian Women’s Hockey Team Announcement

• Hockey India has announced a 33-member Indian Women’s Hockey Team that will continue training in Bangalore until May 16, 2024.
• The Indian women’s team will travel to Antwerp, Belgium, and London, England, to face Argentina, Belgium, Germany, and Great Britain in the FIH Hockey Pro League 2023/24 later this year.
• Harendra Singh has joined the Bangalore camp to manage the senior national women’s hockey team.

Harendra Singh’s appointment as the coach of the Indian women’s hockey team until the 2028 Olympics represents a significant investment in the development and growth of the sport in the country. His previous experience and achievements in coaching the junior and senior men’s teams, as well as the senior women’s team, make him a valuable asset for the Indian hockey program.