In this episode of Studio Hockey we take a deep dive into hockey in India. The spotlight is on Harendra Singh, one of Indian hockey’s most revered coaches and mentors. Over a distinguished coaching career that has spanned nearly three decades, Harendra has led teams at virtually every level of Indian hockey. From junior boys to senior women, guiding Olympic medallists and developing talents who have become household names. As a winner of India’s prestigious Dronacharya Award for outstanding coaches, his inside-out knowledge of Indian field hockey, both as a strategist and talent nurturer, is unmatched. As India’s national men’s team faces a period of reckoning and potential transition, if we were to believe social media, it is only fitting to have his seasoned perspective on where the team stands today and what the future may hold.
State of Indian Hockey: A Coach’s Perspective
Opening the discussion, Harendra is asked about the current standing of Indian hockey from a coach’s expert eye, especially in light of a winless stretch in the FIH Pro League in Rourkela, heavy defeats and visible senior player transitions. He acknowledges the turbulence but urges fans and analysts not to hit the panic button. Rather, he sees the current moment as a transitional phase, especially significant after the retirement of an iconic goalkeeper PR Sreejesh and the absence of other key players. “Any goalkeeper filling Sreejesh’s shoes takes time. Goalkeeper is an area which takes years and years to develop,” he points out, emphasizing that such phases are a natural part of sporting cycles, and patience is needed to avoid “pressing the panic button.” Harendra highlights the importance of process over emotion, saying, “We should not look for instant coffee.”
What Worries You the Most – Performance, Administration, or Culture?
Harendra is asked which aspect concerns him the most about today’s Indian hockey: performance, administration or team culture. He is unequivocal in his response – administration and team culture are not the root causes for concern.
“I think this is the time...the chemistry between the federation and the government and the side...I think that’s perfect,” Harendra explains.
His principal concern lies in India’s overreliance on emotions rather than focusing on pathways and processes. He observes that the supply line of young players from the 2016 junior batch is still forming the backbone of the team, highlighting a lack of meaningful infusion from the subsequent generations. “We are getting only one or two players infused in the senior team (from among the juniors),” he warns, reiterating the need for a more robust pathway.
The Role of Junior Development and Succession
The conversation pivots naturally to whether the Junior World Cup, meant as a feeder for the senior team, is fulfilling its purpose. Harendra details that “each and every player” from the 2016 Junior World Cup-winning team made it to the senior side, with many winning Olympic medals – evidence of a once-successful pipeline. Now, however, he sees a lag in technically sound talent coming through. Harendra insists, “The juniors develop technical skill (but) tactics and strategy come (are learnt) in the senior (team).” He points to technical deficiencies at the grassroots as the main deficit, reinforcing the urgent need to focus on talent development below the surface.
Transition and Strategy: Patience as a Virtue
Next, Harendra is quizzed about how the national coaches and selectors are managing the transition phase. He expresses his faith in the current coach, Craig Fulton, who, according to Singh, has “a great, great idea how to develop” the team for future events like the Asian Games and the upcoming World Cup. He notes that other nations might appear “10 to 15 percent ahead,” but he remains optimistic, provided patience prevails. “We should not look for instant coffee,” he reiterates, emphasizing development over quick fixes.
India’s Hockey Administration: What’s Going Well?
Harendra is also asked to identify positive developments in recent years under Hockey India’s administration. He responds enthusiastically, celebrating the considerable improvements in the environment created for players and coaches. “In 1.5 years with the women’s team (as coach), I did not get a single call (any interference) from the officials. You have to just send the mail about what you want, where you want, how you want; and they provide everything,” he shares. Harendra lauds the collaborative synergy between governmental bodies and the federation and particularly notes how world-class facilities in places like Bengaluru have transformed the high-performance setup, further stating, “Nowhere in the world we can find (such facilities).”
The shift in mindset now sees players themselves taking ownership of their performance, which Harendra regards as a cultural milestone.
Building Better Coaches for Indian Hockey
The question of India’s reliance on foreign coaches is raised next. Harendra is reflective yet candid, observing that while foreign expertise – especially in technical support – can be invaluable, “Unfortunately, in our country, we have great players, but not great coaches. Let’s accept it.” The local coaching ecosystem, he says, needs structural reform. “The best coaches in the world always work on the grassroots level.” He points out that while some outstanding individuals, such as Baldev Singh, have excelled, a systemic, curriculum-driven approach tailored for all regions and levels is still lacking.
Harendra suggests, “We have to divide this country in the 5 or 6 pockets and then develop the coaches...and curriculum for the coaches – that’s very important across India.”
The ultimate goal, he believes, is developing both numbers and quality in coaching, following a uniform coaching curriculum to create a generation of technically adept players.
Changing the Way Players and Coaches Interact
Delving into cultural changes, Harendra is asked whether the new generation of players in India, like elsewhere in the world, respond differently to authority figures, valuing mutual respect over hierarchy. Harendra agrees that a shift is underway, especially in national camps. He explains, “Now the modern coaches [use] the player-driven program... [Coaches] are facilitators.” Still, he notes that at junior levels, the traditional “guru-shishya” (teacher-student) culture remains strong, though social media is beginning to play a significant role in shaping young athletes’ expectations and attitudes. Harendra warns of a growing temptation among young players to think themselves “complete” by watching highlight reels online, arguing, “Talent cannot win the championship. It’s your hard work, determination, and hunger always [that] will.”
Pathways and Early Development: Road to ‘36
When asked about initiatives for early identification and grooming of young talent, Harendra mentions prior efforts to assemble large training camps for youth under prominent national captains. However, he laments the lack of sustained planning and continuity, stating, “We are already 4 years late in terms of the development and identification.” He proposes a bold slogan—“Road to ’36”—referring to India’s ambition to develop talent for the 2036 Olympics, emphasizing that every player, coach, and federation member should be working with that long-term goal in mind.
Mental Resilience: Secure or Fragile?
Harendra is then invited to comment on whether current Indian teams, both men’s and women’s, are mentally secure or fragile. Drawing on his experience with both squads, he feels the men are “mentally ready,” thanks to the confidence from their Olympic medal. He suggests that senior players should mentor newcomers, helping them adapt. On the women’s side, however, he senses greater psychological insecurity, attributing this in part to societal pressures and a perfectionist mindset: “Women always want to work everything in the perfect. That’s a hard fact.” He recommends creating a culture where calculated risk-taking is encouraged, as “In sports, no one can say I’m perfect.” He is steadfast that management’s focus should be on creating secure environments as, “No one is bigger than any sports...end of the day, our focus will not shift whatever the circumstances.”
Controversy and Communication: The Manpreet Singh Episode
In light of the recent speculation surrounding the absence of former captain Manpreet Singh, Harendra is asked whether the decision was performance or discipline-based. He is unequivocal in defending Manpreet, whom he first identified as a prodigious talent in 2011. Describing him as “a modern hockey complete player,” Harendra says, “If anyone has doubts about his fitness, commitment or discipline, I don’t agree.” He believes the controversy was a case of miscommunication and could have been quickly put to rest: “The only mistake they have done (is that) when this news had already spread, then the clarification came. I was expecting [it] the very first day.” He concludes the matter should rest now that both Manpreet and Hockey India have publicly clarified the situation.
The Role and Impact of the Hockey India League (HIL)
Harendra illuminates the significant yet double-edged influence of the Hockey India League in talent identification and transition. While recognizing HIL’s value for exposing younger players to international standards, he cautions against using HIL performance as the primary yardstick for national selection: “HIL performance should not be considered one of the selection (criteria) for the national team.” International-level demands – across skill, mindset and experience – are far more stringent, he says. However, he does commend the gradual introduction of promising young players, such as Lakra, into the national setup via HIL, as a strategic masterstroke.
Pro League Defeats: Diagnosis and the Way Forward
Turning to the recent defeats in the FIH Pro League, Harendra analyzes whether India was outplayed tactically, physically or for some other reason. He identifies a drop in physical conditioning and a reversion to “individual” solutions under pressure (“running with the ball”) as the core problems. According to Harendra, “In team sports, you cannot solve the problem individually.” He reaffirms his belief in the current coach, Fulton, who is still testing combinations and is likely to rectify these lapses. Harendra is confident that a focus on fitness and collective problem-solving will restore India’s edge before upcoming big events.
Squad Changes and Signs for the Future
With recent resting of key players and changes in captaincy, Harendra is probed on whether such rotations indicate long-term trends. He remains optimistic that, post-rest, experienced players like Manpreet and Harmanpreet will return revitalized, and the team will blend youth with experience effectively. “Once goalkeeper (Krishan) Pathak will come, besides Dilpreet, Manpreet and Harman after taking a break...the hunger of playing for (the team) will definitely help,” he says, reiterating the need for players to “go through the grind in terms of the fitness.”
What Went Right for the Men’s Team?
Reflecting on recent positive outcomes, Harendra commends the team’s initial structure and resilience. He highlights effective strategies in neutralizing opponents’ aerial attacks and “blocking the hot channel,” and, most importantly, the new mental edge: “Despite losing 4-1 or 8-1, the team has never given up.” For him, these are meaningful improvements and provide hope for future matches.
Coaching Indian Women: Contrasts and Challenges
Invited to compare coaching the men’s and women’s national teams, Harendra observes, “When you’re coaching the women’s team, you should be very sensitive, and also you have to pick what words you use.” Indian women teams, once given a task, “try to do and try to implement,” but can become “perfectionists” who are averse to risk. He believes the biggest opportunity for the women’s squad lies in learning “to take the risk” and embrace the idea that “we never fail, we always learn.”
Women’s World Cup Qualification and Mental Toughness
As the women’s team embarks on a crucial World Cup qualifying campaign, Harendra is asked about their prospects. He’s confident in qualification, citing their ranking and the blend of youth and experience. However, he believes their biggest challenge will be psychological – keeping calm amidst expectation and media scrutiny. “They should be mentally strong, not thinking too much of the qualification, just play match by match,” he advises. He also highlights the evolution of strong teams like Ireland and Belgium as competitive benchmarks.
Advice to Women’s Team Management
Pressed for a single piece of advice if given an advisory role with the women’s team, Singh’s response is direct: “First they have to appoint one very good psychologist. To be frank, this team needs a psychologist.” He encourages fostering a “team” mentality with clarity of purpose and goals to avoid fragmentation and confusion.
Ending the Wait: Can India Win a World Cup?
With Olympic medals finally in the bag, Harendra is questioned whether the long wait for a senior World Cup title might soon end. He cautions, “Let’s accept it’s a hard road.” In a sport where “the best and the worst team also can win a medal...depending on the day how you perform,” India is certainly capable of semifinals, but ultimate success hinges on “the player understanding...rather than tactical and technical.”
The Real Priority: Grassroots Development
Concluding, Harendra is asked about the single most important next step for Indian hockey’s grassroots and what role he sees for himself. Harendra is passionate about growing coaching talent and creating structured leagues and competition among younger age groups, rather than merely relying on natural ability at the elite level.
“We kill our pillar in the grassroots level by coaching 14 sessions in a week at the age of 12 and 14...I’m not blaming coaches also because they have not gone through (proper development).”
He envisions dividing the country into zones and creating a uniform pathway for talent identification and player growth – the essential pipeline for long-term international success.
Recap and Closing Thoughts
In an episode bursting with honest critique, thoughtful optimism and hard-earned wisdom, Harendra offers a sweeping roadmap for Indian hockey, from grassroots reform to elite preparation, player psychology to modern coaching methods. His nuanced take on transition challenges and potential is a reminder that while passion and tradition fuel Indian hockey’s heartbeat, process, patience and a scientific approach will define its future.
We hope you enjoyed this in-depth conversation on Studio Hockey, a podcast dedicated to international and domestic field hockey, brought to you by co-hosts Ernst Baart for the European perspective and Jaspreet Singh for the Asian point of view.
Happy hockey everybody :)
