Latest news with #HockeyIndia
Time of India
2 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Vocal for local: National Women's hockey chief coach believes investing in home grown talent is the way forward
Harendra Singh (left), India's women's hockey chief coach and former India goalkeeper Baljit Singh and P Shanmugam. (TOI) Bengaluru: The best coaches, it is said, are thieves who steal ideas from others to be on top of their game. Hockey India plans to do just that with its internship initiative for coaches with national teams. It aims to pool resources, borrow ideas and build teams for the future. Harendra Singh, India's women's hockey chief coach, is at the heart of the initiative and he believes it is a step in the right direction. At SAI, South Centre on Tuesday, as India's hockey teams continue the process of rebuilding with an eye on the 2028 Paris Olympics, Harendra told TOI the country should have in-house production of coaches and use their expertise, especially if it plans to host the 2036 Olympics. 'The process of building teams should include coaches as well,' Harendra said. 'I feel a lot of Indian coaches want to work at a higher level, but either don't have the opportunities or hesitate to come forward. These new coaches are eager to learn. International resources are doing a good job, but it is important to give our homegrown coaches opportunities.' Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! On picking coaches for the one-week internship programme, Harendra said: 'Hockey India and we sat together and decided to call coaches from various state units and academies who we think can help prepare Indian hockey for the future. They come in and train with the senior teams for a week. They also give their inputs and ideas to coaching staff.' Harendra insists it's a long-term investment. 'It certainly isn't like instant coffee, but the initiative will pay rich dividends in the long run. These coaches are far more foresighted and technically equipped and can serve hockey for a long time.' Baljit, Shanmugam join coaching staff Former India goalkeeper Baljit Singh, who lost vision in his right eye in a freak accident at a national camp in July 2009, made his comeback to the national setup last week. The injury ended the keeper's career, but the 43-year-old now has another lease with the game. He has been roped in by Harendra to coach goalkeepers along with Dutch consultant Simon Zijp, who will continue to conduct regular short-term camps. Poll Do you think the internship initiative for coaches will positively impact Indian hockey's future? Yes, it will enhance coaching quality. No, it won't make a significant difference. For Baljit, who has coached in Punjab and at a private academy, this is his first stint with the national team. 'An unfortunate incident cut short his national team career, but I believe Baljit is one of the best goalkeepers the country has produced,' said Harendra. 'This is his first coaching assignment with the national team, and he is eager to give back to the sport. I believe he has a lot to offer.' Former junior international and seasoned coach from Karnataka, P Shanmugam, has also been roped in. The Canara Bank employee brings over two decades of coaching experience at the grassroots level. 'Shanmugam is working on developing basic skills and the first touch, which I was also doing. We need a helping hand, and he is the best in business,' Harendra said. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
We are preparing for Pakistan: Fulton
Back to full-strength training after the disappointing Pro League tour of Europe, the Indian men's hockey team is putting in the hard yards to ensure better results in the upcoming Australia tour, with one eye on the Asia Cup back home later next month. The players have been training here for the last fortnight and, although the squad for Australia has been decided, the trials for the Asia Cup are scheduled for Friday as coach Craig Fulton zeroes in on his final 18 for the World Cup qualifying event in Rajgir. 'It's going good, and it's nice to have the India A group back as well and good competition, we are excited about the Asia Cup, that's the main priority for the year. We specifically chose Australia to tour for that reason (tougher opponents than the teams in Asia Cup) because we want to make sure we have covered all bases. To play a top team like Australia, from a physical and a tactical point of view, it will highlight quite quickly if we are on track or not. 'It's not always easy, we had a tough time when we went there the last time but 3-4 months later, we beat Australia for the first time (in the Olympics). That's the ideal scenario, to play someone better than you and then close the gap between where you started and where you finished,' Fulton said after training on Tuesday. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙗𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙤 𝘼𝙨𝙞𝙖 𝘾𝙪𝙥 2025. 🏆 Just 1 month to go. ⌛ From 29 August to 7 September, Rajgir Bihar is all set to welcome Asia's finest. 💪🏻 Get ready for non stop action, electrifying crowds and moments that will go down in… — Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) July 29, 2025 The India A side also had mixed results on its Europe tour recently, but Fulton insisted it was part of a long-term process. 'With the India A, it's all development, they are not there to win games against Holland and Belgium and England. 'At the same time, we are looking at developing the next group of talented athletes. But they need good games, and they need to be tested, and I think we really got a good balance of seeing that. 'We just want to create more depth because what happens now with the Under-21s? They finish the World Cup, they can't come straight into the senior group, where do they go? This squad is for that, and then it's always really competitive so that whatever comes in is better than what's currently going out and that's how we are trying to manage that programme,' he said. As for the Asia Cup, he isn't thinking about the line-up just yet. 'I assume it's going to be Pakistan because if it's anyone lesser, I can't do anything about it. I'm preparing for Pakistan and that's how we're approaching it. The worst thing to do is not prepare and if they arrive, then use the excuse, 'Oh we didn't think they were coming'. '
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Indian team preparing hard for the Asia Cup, says HI president Tirkey
It was a woefully disappointing performance by the Indian men's hockey team in the recently concluded FIH Pro League, having finished eighth among nine teams, with the side suffering seven successive losses in the European leg. Dilip Tirkey, president of Hockey India, admitted that it has been a sub-par performance by the team, but Hockey India is watching the squad's performance and welcomed the team management to share information about players' form. 'Yes, the team did not perform as expected in the Pro League. If the players are tired and if they are not able to play well [for some reason or other], I've asked the team management to let us know. If the senior players are not performing to their own standards, the selectors can take strict action. We have important tournaments like the World Cup (August 14 to 30, 2026) and the Asian Games (September 19 to Oct. 4, 2026) coming up,' Tirkey told The Hindu, on the sidelines of the National sub-junior men's hockey championships here on Monday. With the Asia Cup (to be held from August 27 to September 7) in Rajgir, Bihar, where a spot is reserved for the winner to the World Cup, Tirkey said the tournament carries a lot of weight. 'The Asia Cup is an important tournament. The team is preparing hard for it,' he said. The Junior men's World Cup to be held in Madurai and Chennai from November 28 to December 10, will be a huge success, with the support of the Tamil Nadu Government, said Tirkey. 'The Government has always supported hockey. Take for instance the 2007 Asia Cup and the Asian Champions Trophy in 2023,' he added. The decision to include 24 teams in the Junior World Cup, Tirkey claimed is to expand the base. 'The weaker teams will gradually gain interest and get better. FIH (International body for hockey) is doing it to promote the sport. One-sided matches happened even when the World Cup had 16 teams,' he said.
Deccan Herald
5 days ago
- Sport
- Deccan Herald
100 Years of Indian hockey: HI unveils grants, Nov 7 festival
The support is expected to benefit thousands of emerging players, coaches, and grassroots officials who are the backbone of Indian hockey's future, Hockey India said in a statement.
Hans India
5 days ago
- Sport
- Hans India
Hockey India hosts 15th Congress, unveils nationwide festival and grants for 100-year celebration
Hockey India successfully conducted its 15th Congress in the historic town of Mahabalipuram on Sunday. Marking a century of Indian hockey's glorious journey, the session witnessed a series of landmark announcements, including a Nationwide Festival of Hockey Celebration on November 7 and substantial financial support for state and national-level hockey development. Indian hockey's legacy began in 1925 with the formation of its first-ever national governing body. To commemorate this historic milestone, Hockey India will organise an unprecedented, nationwide celebration on November 7. The event will feature 1,000 simultaneous matches - one men's and one women's match in every district of the country - engaging over 36,000 players (18,000 men and 18,000 women). This massive initiative will bring together players from every corner of the nation, reflecting not only the unity and diversity of India, but also the enduring passion that hockey continues to inspire. In a visionary move to further empower the ecosystem of Indian hockey, Hockey India announced substantial increases in financial grants to support the organisation of national and grassroots-level events: Rs 70 lakh each for hosting the Senior Men's and Senior Women's National Championships Rs 30 lakh each for Junior Men, Junior Women, Sub-Junior Men, and Sub-Junior Women National Championships. Rs 25 lakh per state to support the organisation of district and state-level competitions. These enhanced grants aim to strengthen infrastructure, improve event quality, and ensure wider participation by reducing financial constraints at the local level. The support is expected to benefit thousands of emerging players, coaches, and grassroots officials who are the backbone of Indian hockey's future. Dilip Tirkey, President, Hockey India, said,'As we celebrate 100 years of Indian hockey, we not only honour our golden legacy but also lay a strong foundation for the future. This nationwide festival is our tribute to every player, coach, and fan who has carried Indian hockey forward. The financial support we are announcing is a direct investment in the dreams of the next generation, ensuring that no talent is left behind due to lack of resources.' Bhola Nath Singh, Secretary General, Hockey India, added, 'This centenary celebration is not just symbolic - it's action-oriented. The increased grants are a reflection of our belief that real growth happens at the grassroots, and that equal opportunity, gender parity, and quality infrastructure are essential pillars of hockey's resurgence. We thank all our state units and districts for their commitment, and we look forward to a grand, inclusive celebration on 7th November.'
