Indian women's hockey team chief coach Harendra Singh advises, "Forget the past and think about the future,” to his wards as he chalks out his side's roadmap for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
After reaching a new high in Tokyo, where they finished a creditable fourth, the Indian women failed to qualify for the Paris Games, where the men's team won a second consecutive bronze medal.'
"When I took up this team, we had discussed this topic at length. I always look into the positive side and feel that something better is there in store for them,” said Singh.
“Girls were disheartened, the whole country was sad but I told them that there was something bigger waiting for them,” he added.
Harendra was appointed to the role in April this year he was earlier in charge of the women's team in 2017-18, and lends his empowering words for his team, “The target is 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the girls must learn to forget the past and think about future.”
He added, “I told them to forget about the past and think about the future. I have given this mission the name 'Road to LA 2028' and I think it will be a beautiful journey."
Harendra said there is no better time to start winning medals than the LA Olympics.
“India won the first Olympic medal in hockey in Los Angeles in 1928 when the legend Dhyan Chand ji was part of the team and what would be a better start than winning a medal in 2028 at the same place exactly after 100 years.”
“Whatever good has been done in the last four years, I would not like to change that. Then we will take it one by one and what went wrong, he added.
“We started from there and I told them that I am not expecting great results in the Pro League. We have to make a foundation for LA 2028,” he said.
When asked about what prompted him to leave his lucrative job as head coach of the USA men's team and return to the country, Harendra said: "I am happy to be back home and serving the vision of women empowerment in India.
"Somewhere I wanted to contribute and not a better place to serve Indian hockey, especially women.
"Professionally I have learnt many things in my stint as a coach of the US men's team. I think after the Rio Olympics we have realised we are a sleeping giant and must wake up now. The kind of talent we have and the infrastructure now, that inspired me a lot," he said.
Harendra said fitness is one area which is a primary concern for him.
"This team is lacking in the fitness standard which is needed for modern-day hockey. It includes speed, endurance, agility and decision-making ability.
They have technical skills and if they fulfil the fitness parameters that will give them an edge in big tournaments," he said.
"My prime job is to improve the strength, power and speed of this team." He also insisted that his long-term plan revolves around a self-confined term 'SST', which is science, skills and technology.
"We have to incorporate science, skill and technology, which I call SST. We are now playing European style which was the biggest lacking earlier. We have made a blueprint. There should be one model, one coaching philosophy from the grassroots to the national camp," he said.
He also defended the decision to have a new captain in Salima Tete, as it allowed ace goalkeeper Savita to play more freely.
"Savita is a wall of Indian women's hockey. She has served our country for many years now and is an integral part of our scheme of things but there is one technical glitch.
"If the captain is shown the green card during the match what will happen because she is the goalkeeper? So it's better to have a captain who is not a goalkeeper," Harendra said.
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