India

The Indian Hockey Federation's inablity to chalk out a long term plan is hurting the game dearly, according to former coach Rajinder Singh who also foresaw another poor performance from the team in the Champions Trophy to be held later this year.
"There is no long term planning by the Indian Hockey Federation to raise the standard of game," Rajinder Singh who was the coach of the senior team from 2001 to 2003, told reporters on the sidelines of a seminar on 'Revival of Hockey', organised by the Chandigarh Sports Journalist Association here to mark the 100th birth anniversary of hockey wizard Dhyan Chand.

Rajinder was also critical of IHF's tendency to remove and appoint coaches frequently. "A coach should be given at least four to five years to prove himself," he said.

He also suggested of giving an "open hand" to the coach in taking decisions cooncerning the team.

Describing the performance of the Indian team in the recent Robo Trophy as "poor", he said he had no hopes from the team in the forthcoming Champions Trophy.

The former coach also said the team lacked drag flickers who were crucial since more than fifty per cent of the game is based on penalty corner conversions.

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