Indian hockey group’s Australian leader trainer Graham Reid resigned on Monday, taking accountability for the hosts’ World Cup failure. India, who gained bronze on the 2021 Tokyo Olympics to finish a 41-year wait, completed joint 9th within the match staged in Odisha.
“It is now time for me to step apart and give up the reins to the following control. It has been an honor and privilege to paintings with the group and Hockey India (HI) and I’ve loved each second of this epic adventure. I want the group all of the perfect,” said Reid, who joined India in April 2019.
Reid took Indian hockey to its biggest success for 41 years in Tokyo, where the Manpreet Singh-led side achieved their first podium finish since their 1980 Moscow Olympics victory. However, the World Cup turned out to be a big disappointment as India didn’t even reach the quarter-finals, crashing out in the crossovers to New Zealand.
India then won the classification matches against Japan and South Africa to finish joint ninth, the worst showing by a host nation at the World Cup. The previous worst displays were Argentina in Buenos Aires 1978, Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur 2002 and India in New Delhi 2010.
After submitting his resignation to HI president Dilip Tirkey, Reid addressed the team and support staff on Friday evening to convey his decision. Many players were surprised. “He took us to our greatest result in 41 years which shows he is a good coach,” said a team member on condition of anonymity.
Reid told the players that if he could not deliver results then it was time to move on, after which the players said their goodbyes to the Australian.
The Indian team’s analytical coach Greg Clark and scientific advisor Mitchell David Pemberton also tendered their resignations, on Monday morning. All three will serve their notice period over the next month.
Tirkey, along with HI secretary general Bholanath Singh, met the players and support staff to understand and analyze the team’s performance and strategy for the way ahead.
Having accepted the resignations, Tirkey, a former India skipper, said: “India will at all times have gratitude to Reid and his group of toughen group of workers who’ve introduced just right effects to the rustic, specifically within the Olympics. As all trips transfer to other levels, it’s now time for us to transport on against a brand new manner for our group.”
A few India avid gamers stated on situation of anonymity that they had been unsatisfied with the educational strategies of Pemberton, who was once employed after Robin Arkell left after the Tokyo Olympics. South African Arkell was once with Germany, who lifted the World Cup on Sunday night after beating Belgium in a unexpected loss of life shootout.
Reid was once given a unfastened hand to choose the World Cup group making an allowance for the luck he had on the Olympics. There was once numerous dialogue in hockey circles at the penalty takers within the crossover sport defeat in opposition to New Zealand after probably the most skilled avid gamers weren’t picked to do the difficult activity.
In hockey, maximum choices are taken by way of the bench, which is headed by way of the pinnacle trainer. Reid has historically sponsored younger avid gamers. For instance, he selected a tender Shamsher Singh over the skilled Akashdeep Singh whilst heading to Tokyo. But opting for formative years within the shootout backfired this time round.
This World Cup was once a golden alternative for Harmanpreet Singh and his group to construct at the momentum won within the Tokyo Olympics. But the group’s performances were reasonable publish the Olympics. A drop in health ranges was once obviously visual as India didn’t even qualify for the quarter-finals.
India may just win bronze on the 2021 Asian Champions Trophy — their first tournament after the Tokyo Olympics. Though they completed a commendable 3rd within the Pro League in opposition to the most efficient countries on this planet, they had been humiliated within the ultimate of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, shedding 0-7 to Australia. They additionally misplaced 4 of the 5 fits in a chain in Australia earlier than getting into the World Cup in Odisha.
It is discovered that HI has contacted a few world coaches to take over the reins because the group must building up for the postponed Hangzhou Asian Games (23 September to eight October) and the 2024 Paris Olympics. A choice on Reid’s successor is anticipated to be made in February.