Hockey India appoints Harendra Singh as India junior coach

NEW DELHI: Hockey India today appointed former senior coach Harendra Singh as the coach of the junior men's team to groom it for the 2016 World Cup to be held in the country.

Harendra will join the training camp of the team on April 25.

"The appointment of Harendra Singh is in line with our efforts to prepare Junior Hockey Men team for the 2016 World Cup to be hosted in India," Hockey India Secretary Narinder Batra said.

"His experience as a coach and player will add huge value to the camp which is scheduled to start end of this month and we are pleased to have him on board. We are sure that with Harendra Singh coming in to support the initiative towards ensuring a full and strong team for the World Cup will be achieved.

"Harendra Singh had earlier coached national teams for several major events and we welcome him in his new role as that of the Junior Men Hockey Team's coach and wish him all the best for the future and for the upcoming Junior Men World Cup," he added.

Speaking on the appointment Harendra said he was looking forward to the new assignment.

"My coaching experience and its course till date has given me this splendid opportunity to work with the Junior Men Hockey Team as a coach and to spruce up the squad's abilities and strength and help them in molding them on a world class platform.

"I am elated by the opportunity and will contribute towards my team with the techniques and skills known best to my knowledge and help the players implement both hard work as well as smart work on the field."

Starting his coaching career in 1998, Harendra has an experience of 379 matches approximately which includes Sydney Olympic (2000), World Cup (2005-Jr, 2006 and 2010), Asian Games (2006 and 2010), Asia Cup (2004-Jr and 2009), Champion's Challenge (2009) and various other tournaments.

His achievements as a coach already includes 8 gold, 5 silver and 9 bronze medals with senior and junior teams in various international tournaments.