India Women’s Hockey 2026 World Cup Risk: Several players told officials they were unwilling to continue under him, citing behaviour issues, rising injuries, and poor performance.
Why Hockey India Parted Ways With Harendra Singh
Hockey India announced on Monday that women’s team chief coach Harendra Singh has resigned, with the official statement saying he stepped down due to “personal reasons.” But according to senior players and officials, the real reason was a series of serious complaints filed by team members about his behaviour and coaching methods.
Harendra took charge of the women’s team in April 2024, right after India failed to qualify for the Paris Olympics. Although he guided the team to the Asian Champions Trophy title later that year, things soon began to fall apart. The Indian Express reported that at least half of the women’s hockey team told officials they did not want to continue under Harendra. Their concerns were linked to his handling of the team, the increasing number of injuries, and a long run of poor results, which put India Women’s Hockey 2026 World Cup Risk in focus.
Sources also revealed this wasn’t the first time players had raised concerns. About three to four months ago, senior players had already informed the Sports Ministry’s Target Olympic Podium (TOP) division about problems within the camp. This included issues like pressure, favouritism, and what players alleged was a “high-handed” approach by the coach, increasing the India Women’s Hockey 2026 World Cup Risk.
After the latest round of complaints last week, the Sports Ministry instructed Hockey India to look into the matter. On Monday, top officials—including Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey and secretary-general Bhola Nath Singh—visited the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre in Bengaluru, where the national camp is happening. They held one-on-one meetings with each player to understand the situation, with a clear focus on India Women’s Hockey 2026 World Cup Risk.
Officials found that more than half the team was uncomfortable continuing with Harendra, and many players spoke about injuries being overlooked or hidden, a negative environment in the camp, and growing dissatisfaction, all raising concerns over India Women’s Hockey 2026 World Cup Risk.
A source said nearly 10–11 players were carrying injuries, yet were told not to reveal them. Some team members also felt the coach spoke politely only to the captain and vice-captain, creating a sense of favouritism. This further affected trust and unity, worsening the India Women’s Hockey 2026 World Cup Risk.
Later that day, an unsigned letter surfaced, listing claims of “mental harassment” by the support staff and alleging that players were under “extreme pressure.” Hockey India officials confirmed they had seen the letter but could not verify its authenticity. The ongoing tension only added to the India Women’s Hockey 2026 World Cup Risk.
Through Hockey India’s statement, Harendra said coaching the Indian women’s hockey team had been a “privilege” and that although he was stepping away for personal reasons, he wished the team success. Still, experts believe the leadership change is crucial to address the India Women’s Hockey 2026 World Cup Risk.
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A Difficult Nine Months: From Highs to Sharp Decline
Harendra’s nine-month stint was marked by an early high followed by a sharp fall. After the Asian Champions Trophy win in November 2024, results dipped drastically. The team struggled in the 2024–25 FIH Pro League, finishing last with only 2 wins in 16 matches, which led to relegation. More recently, they lost the Asia Cup final to China, putting India Women’s Hockey 2026 World Cup Risk in serious focus.
The decline in performance, combined with internal complaints and concerns about player well-being, ultimately forced Hockey India to act before the India Women’s Hockey 2026 World Cup Risk worsened further.
With Harendra’s exit, Hockey India is already looking at possible replacements. Dutch coach Sjoerd Marijne, who guided India to a historic fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics, is a top candidate. Australian legend Ric Charlesworth is also reportedly being considered. The new coach will need to rebuild trust and address India Women’s Hockey 2026 World Cup Risk to ensure a stable and successful team.
For now, the women’s hockey team will continue its Bengaluru camp while Hockey India finalises the next coach who can reduce India Women’s Hockey 2026 World Cup Risk and focus on preparing the team for future competitions.
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