By: Sarwar Alam
Hockey India on Monday announced former Australian midfielder Graham Reid as the replacement for Harendra Singh, the men’s national team coach who was sacked this January after the team’s quarter-final exit as hosts of the World Cup.
“Graham Reid is backed by a successful career as a player and also comes with a strong coaching experience, having worked with the Australian and Netherlands national teams,” Mohd Mushtaque Ahmad, president of Hockey India, said in a statement.
“We are hopeful his experience and expertise will help the Indian men’s hockey team achieve desirable results leading up to and at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics,” he added.
Singh, who was sacked from the national team, was appointed as coach of the junior team, which India said was aimed at building a “strong base” ahead of the 2021 Junior World Cup and the 2020 and 2024 Olympics.
The former women’s team coach became the men’s coach when he replaced Dutchman Sjoerd Marijne after India failed to win a medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Reid, 54, said that he and his wife will be moving to Bengaluru in southern India for he job.
“It’s an honour and privilege to be appointed as chief coach of the Indian men’s hockey team. I have a passion for the fast and attack brand of hockey that India plays,” Reid said in a statement issued by Hockey India.
