There was pleasure each methods when Harendra Singh returned from his stint within the USA to take over as Indian ladies’s hockey workforce head coach earlier this yr. For the gamers, it was joyous to see a well-known face. For Harendra, it was ‘ghar wapsi’ — an opportunity to work once more with the nationwide setup after some time. Nevertheless it was clear to him within the first few days that there was a necessity for a rebuild. After the highs of ending 4th on the Tokyo Olympics, the ladies’s workforce did not even qualify for Paris 2024. Harendra’s first thought was to press the reset button. He recognized health as a major focus space. A military-style boot camp was organised on the Indian Naval Academy in Kannur, Kerala late in July that included actions like boat-pulling, impediment course, evening camps and tugs of conflict. And now, forward of the Girls’s Asian Champions Trophy in Rajgir, Bihar beginning November 11, Harendra believes a brand new cycle should start. The Indian Specific caught up with the pinnacle coach for an interview.
We knew India deserved to win a medal on the Paris Olympics however sadly they didn’t qualify. Their shoulders have been down, they weren’t assured, the vibes within the workforce weren’t nice. It’s apparent while you dream of one thing for 4 years and don’t obtain it, 4 years of preparation from all stakeholders go haywire.
So we determined, no matter occurred, we can not return. Let’s start a brand new journey. Let’s deal with 2028. We are going to begin from zero. I additionally reminded them that 1928 was the primary time Indian males’s workforce ever gained a hockey gold on the Olympics, so precisely 100 years later, let’s recreate historical past by successful a medal. That’s why our Whatsapp group’s title is Mission 2028. In 2016 after we gained the Junior World Cup, we had created the same group like that in 2014. It’s to make the gamers suppose that they need to be a part of this legacy. For me, that is about each second of every single day for 4 years. I need these women to dream, not when they’re sleeping, however when their eyes and their minds are open.
Might you inform us in regards to the camp on the Indian Naval Academy?
Folks within the military, and navy know learn how to work to maximise their output with restricted sources. That is without doubt one of the experiences I needed to present the gamers. It’s not each time you’ll get what you need. Are you able to mentally put together your self for that? Among the workout routines we did helped each the gamers and the workers.
One thing like staying awake the entire evening, for instance. And if you find yourself fatigued, how mentally robust are you in making selections? The bonding between gamers additionally actually improved after the camp.
How did the gamers react to the camp?
Initially, they have been a bit of apprehensive, as a result of that they had by no means executed something like this. As they are saying, you don’t know learn how to swim and somebody throws you within the ocean. One factor they realized was that that they had to assist one another. Frankly, the primary two days it was exhausting for them. However as soon as they obtained their specifically designed commando-style uniforms for the camp, they began transferring round in it, I may see their personalities change completely. (smiles)
Through the Professional League this yr, you stated you needed the workforce to play ‘Indian masala hockey’.
That’s our power. In the event you see the lads’s workforce as nicely, the entire world will get scared to face the Indian-style masala hockey. What I imply by that may be a good mixture of particular person stick abilities mixed with sharp give-and-go.
If we get this mix proper, there’s no trying again. I don’t need to set my workforce up defensively. Sure, defensive construction is vital, however from the phrase go, the attacking mindset ought to be there. Extra circle entries, extra pictures, extra targets. I all the time believed, the Indian and Pakistani ‘masala’, you can not take that out of hockey. I consider the sort of hockey we used to play 30 years or so in the past has come again now, and most groups play that method. However simply that the velocity and health ranges, together with penalty nook defences have improved lots together with that. mixture of all that is what makes hockey thrilling.
Might you inform us in regards to the thought course of for choosing the ACT squad? A number of senior gamers like Vandana Katariya are absent.
We’re within the technique of constructing a brand new workforce. Vandana will not be injured, she is so vastly skilled and continues to be a giant motivation for the group. I needed to present kids an opportunity within the match in order that they get used to the stress, particularly taking part in in entrance of a house crowd.
I need the younger gamers to not overlook the method in stress conditions. They should bear in mind ‘After I get the ball, I’ll make a great move, I’ll obtain it nicely and make the best transfer by staying within the second, not be bothered by the outcomes.’
What have been your learnings from the Professional League?
The highest most precedence was health, power, and velocity, which the day we landed in Bangalore after the Professional League, we began engaged on. Now we have extremely expert gamers, that’s our power. When you’ve got talent and velocity, the tactical half can come after that, which we’re engaged on now.
The suggestions from the women can also be that when they’re totally match, they really feel able to difficult any workforce within the high six. After our work over the previous couple of months, they’re feeling gentle, they’re feeling energetic, they really feel they’ve the ability of their legs to essentially run exhausting. Within the league, we noticed how they improved from the primary sport to final, you may see they have been near successful video games by the tip. So if in two weeks we will enhance that a lot, think about what we will do in 4 years, that was my message to them.
