Coach Harendra resigns

Indian men’s hockey team national coach Harendra Singh resigned from his post after his side crashed out with a 3-4 defeat by Malaysia in the second semifinal in Guangzhou,China. Harendra tendered his resignation to Hockey India secretary general Narinder Batra taking full responsibility of the team’s disastrous showing in the semifinal.

“Keeping in view of the dismal performance of the men’s team in the semifinal match against Malaysia today,I hereby tender my resignation as the national coach of the men’s hockey team with immediate effect,” he wrote in his resignation letter to Batra. “I accept the moral responsibility for the debacle at the 16th Asian Games,” Harendra added. In his resignation letter,he also thanked the HI and various government bodies apart from the players and his colleagues for their support during his association with the national team.

However,Batra said,in no way,the federation would accept Harendra’s resignation at this crucial juncture and had asked him to continue with the job. “I had received his mail and also talked with him over phone. I told him that it is not right to be emotional. We have a bronze medal match to play and I asked him to concentrate on that match,” Batra said.

“It is good that he has taken moral responsibility but it is not the right time to take this step. All this can be sorted out after returning to India. I asked him to be with the team and work together so that we can return with the bronze medal,” he added.