New Delhi: Former India centre-forward Shivendra Singh is set to be appointed assistant coach of the national men’s hockey team and will start working with the side next month.
A livewire during his playing days, Shivendra will exclusively work with the strikers and form an integral part of the Indian coaching staff set to be headed by Australian Graham Reid. The Australian’s appointment is just a formality now after Hockey India (HI) and Sports Authority of India (SAI) recommended his name to the Sports Ministry earlier this week.
“Shivendra Singh will join the Indian team soon as an assistant coach soon. He will work with the forwards under the new chief coach,” a source close to the development told this agency, Thursday.
Shivendra was part of the Indian team that won a silver medal in the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games, besides being a member of the bronze medal-winning side of 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games. He also won a gold with the Indian team in 2007 Asia Cup and 2010 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup.
Meanwhile, the source also said that Reid was selected after he committed himself to Indian hockey and agreed to relocate to India with his family. “The new coach has committed to India. He will be shifting his base to India with his family and will be based in Bangalore,” the source informed. He also said the new chief coach’s tenure will be till 2020, extendable till 2022 World Cup depending upon his performance.
The Indian chief coach’s position has been lying vacant after the unceremonious sacking of Harendra Singh in January following a less-than-impressive quarterfinal exit at the World Cup in Bhubaneswar last year.
PTI