Women’s Hockey Coach Steps Down After Internal Concerns

The head coach of the national women’s hockey programme, Harendra Singh, has formally resigned from his position, referring to personal reasons behind his decision. The announcement comes after several players and support-staff members reportedly expressed internal concerns related to communication, conduct and team-environment dynamics.

The resignation was submitted to Hockey India, where it was accepted without public dispute, signaling an immediate transition phase for the team.

Reason Given: Personal, Not Political

In his official statement, Singh noted:

“I am stepping down due to personal circumstances that require my attention. My intent has always been the progress and well-being of Indian hockey.”

He emphasised that the timing of the exit was planned to prevent disruption to future preparations, particularly with international commitments approaching.

Complaints: Team Culture Takes Centre Stage

Over recent weeks, feedback channels inside the women’s hockey ecosystem reportedly flagged issues related to:

• Coach-to-player tone and interaction style

• Perceived communication gap during tournament pressure

• Team morale fluctuations in multi-week camps

• Player-management approach compared with modern coaching frameworks

While none of the complaints were documented in public disciplinary format, the matter gained attention among internal athlete representatives who sought improved behavioural alignment and emotional conditioning in coaching methodology.

Key Achievements During Tenure

Despite the sudden exit, Singh’s coaching period also included visible progress:

Singh had previously coached the men’s squad with strong tactical success, but the shift to the women’s programme required deeper cultural-coaching synchronisation, an area now discussed more openly after his departure.

Governing Body’s Response

A media coordinator from Hockey India said:

“We respect the coach’s decision. The federation remains focused on athlete welfare, safe training environments and continued competitive readiness.”

The body has indicated that an interim coaching group will supervise upcoming camps until a new long-term appointment is announced.

Bigger Debate: Behavioural Standards in Indian Sports

This incident has renewed a national conversation on:

• Athlete mental safety along with tactical coaching

• Behavioural assessment of coaching personnel

• Need for gender-sensitive leadership training in sports

• Modern coach-conduct policies used by global hockey teams

Impact on Team & Next Phase

The Indian women’s hockey team is expected to:

• Resume training under performance-management supervisors

• Have tournament planning reviewed by a temporary coaching committee

• Receive enhanced athlete-feedback protections

Senior players have requested that future coaches align both tactical growth and team communication balance, reflecting an ongoing shift in Indian sport toward a more holistic coaching approach.

Final Note

• The resignation allows investigation and reform without attributing guilt publicly

• The decision is not registered as dismissal, but voluntary exit

• Team preparations continue, leadership review is expected

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