Hockey, Harendra Singh interview: ‘I want this team to be the fittest in the world’

In February, the Indian women’s hockey team had fallen into a dark phase.

After the highs of what they achieved at the Tokyo Olympics and the hopes that came with it, it all came crashing down as they failed to make the cut for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Shortly after that, the national team coach Janneke Schopman, with whom the players had formed a good bond, resigned citing a toxic work environment created by Hockey India officials.

This was a tough period, but in stepped a familiar face who had once helped the team find the path towards an upward swing. Harendra Singh, under whose tutelage the team claimed the title at the 2017 Women’s Hockey Asia Cup, had returned once again to serve as the head coach.

Singh had been working with the American women’s team before returning to India, where he will now have to guide the Salima Tete-led team through a period of transition and rebuilding.

In an exclusive interaction with Scroll, Singh talked about the immediate goals set for the team, the reception they had to his arrival, the prospect of the upcoming Hockey India League season and more.

Edited excerpts:

What was the feeling coming back to the Indian team?

It felt like I was coming home again.

You’re now back with your own people, serving your own country, nothing can bring...

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