In a dramatic turn of events, Hockey India has parted ways with the chief coach of the women's national team, Harendra Singh, following serious complaints from players about his conduct and a series of disappointing performances. The development came on Monday after an investigation was launched into allegations made by senior team members.
Players' Revolt Leads to Investigation
Senior players, who were part of the Paris Olympics Qualifiers and Asian Games campaigns, approached the Union Sports Ministry just three or four days ago with grievances against Harendra Singh's coaching style. They described his approach as "high-handed" and expressed their unwillingness to continue playing under his guidance. This marked the second time that players had formally complained to the ministry about the coach.
According to a senior player who spoke anonymously, the Target Olympic Podium division of the ministry was first informed about these concerns approximately three to four months ago during a national camp. The latest complaint prompted the ministry to direct Hockey India to look into the matter immediately.
Emergency Meetings and Widespread Dissatisfaction
On Monday, top Hockey India officials, including president Dilip Tirkey and secretary-general Bhola Nath Singh, rushed to the Sports Authority of India's Bengaluru centre where a national camp is currently underway. They conducted individual meetings with every player present to assess the situation firsthand.
Sources revealed that after these conversations, officials discovered that at least half of the team members did not want to continue with Harendra Singh as coach. The reasons cited were varied, including dissatisfaction with his handling of the team, increasing injury concerns, and the team's consistently poor results on the international stage.
"Hence, it was decided to part ways with him before the situation deteriorated further," sources told The Indian Express. The decision was taken to prevent further damage to team morale and performance.
Allegations of Favouritism and Pressure
Later on Monday, an unsigned and undated letter surfaced containing multiple allegations against Harendra Singh and his support staff. The letter accused them of "mental harassment," putting players under "extreme pressure," and showing preferential treatment only to the captain and vice-captain while neglecting other team members.
A senior Hockey India official confirmed they had received the letter but could not verify its authenticity. Meanwhile, players described a deteriorating team environment over recent months.
"Roughly 10-11 players are facing injuries of one kind or another, and they were asked to hide them," the senior player revealed. "A few players sensed a culture of favouritism, which created a bad team environment. All this had a negative impact on the team's performance."
Official Resignation and Performance Decline
In an official statement, Hockey India announced that Harendra Singh had "resigned" citing "personal reasons." The veteran coach, who took charge of the women's team in April last year, said through the statement: "Coaching the Indian women's hockey team has been a privilege that has been a highlight of my career. Though personal reasons call me to step away, my heart remains with this extraordinary team and their ongoing success."
Harendra Singh's tenure began after India failed to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. While the team showed initial promise by winning the Asian Champions Trophy in Rajgir in November last year, their performance has declined sharply since then.
The team faced demotion from the FIH Pro League after finishing last in the 2024-25 season, managing to win only two out of sixteen matches. They also suffered a defeat against China in the final of the Asia Cup. These setbacks have now put the team at risk of missing qualification for the 2026 FIH World Cup.
Search for a New Coach Begins
With Harendra Singh's departure, Hockey India has already begun searching for a successor. Sources indicate that Dutch coach Sjoerd Marijne, who guided the women's team to a historic fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics, is being considered as a potential replacement. Australian hockey legend Ric Charlesworth is also reportedly on the radar for the position.
The swift action by Hockey India and the ministry highlights the growing emphasis on player welfare and performance management in Indian sports. The incident also underscores the challenges faced by coaching staff in maintaining team harmony while pushing for competitive results at the highest level of international sport.
