Harinder in-charge of men's hockey team

Perplexity continues to grow within the realms of Indian hockey, as former international Harinder Singh was named coach in-charge of the men's team till 2010, with the Indian Olympic Association-run ad-hoc committee also saying soon a foreigner will join the team as national coach.

IOA president Suresh Kalmadi said the International Hockey Federation (FIH) has recommended three foreign coaches.

''We had a meeting today and we have decided to appoint Harinder Singh as the coach in-charge for the men's hockey team,'' ad-hoc committee chairman Kalmadi said.

''We have also taken a decision to go in for a foreign coach and the FIH has recommended us three names,'' he added.

Kalmadi said soon the ad-hoc committee will meet FIH coaching manager Tayyab Iqram, who has the list of all the recommended coaches, and only then will it finalise the coach for the Indian team.

Kalmadi said Harinder was the second choice after M K Kaushik, who was earlier asked to take over as men's team.

Even the ad-hoc committee's selection chairman, Ajitpal Singh, could not give a definite answer about what be the exact role of the foreign coach will be.

Meanwhile, the Indian hockey's present regime seems to follow the same track that it did during the appointment of Ric Charlesworth who however, resigned rather abruptly.