Amid complaints over ‘behaviour’, women’s hockey coach Harendra Singh quits citing ‘personal reasons’

Sources said this was the second time that players had complained to the ministry about Harendra. According to a senior player, who requested anonymity, the Target Olympic Podium division of the ministry was first apprised of their concerns at a national camp “around three or four months ago”.

Following the latest complaint, the ministry ordered Hockey India to investigate the issue. On Monday, the governing body’s top brass, including president Dilip Tirkey and secretary-general Bhola Nath Singh, reached the Sports Authority of India’s Bengaluru centre, where a national camp is underway, and held individual meetings with every player present.

“After speaking to the players, Hockey India officials realised that at least half of the team did not want to continue playing under Harendra because of various reasons, ranging from how he handled the team to the rising number of injuries and the poor performances. Hence, it was decided to part ways with him before the situation deteriorated further,” sources said.

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Later Monday, an unsigned and undated letter surfaced that outlined multiple allegations against the veteran coach and his support staff, including “mental harassment”, putting the players under “extreme pressure” and talking “nicely only to the captain and vice-captain”. A senior Hockey India official said they were “in possession of the letter but were not able to ascertain its authenticity”.

The senior player, meanwhile, added that the team environment had “gone from bad to worse” in the past few months. “Roughly 10-11 players are facing injury of one or the other kind and they were asked to hide them. A few players sensed a culture of favouritism, which created a bad team environment. All this had a negative impact on the team’s performance,” the player said.

Harendra could not be reached for a comment. However, in a statement via Hockey India, the veteran coach said: “Coaching the Indian women’s hockey team has been a privilege that has been a highlight of my career. Though personal reasons call me to step away, my heart remains with this extraordinary team and their ongoing success.”

Harendra, who has had multiple stints as national coach during a career of over two decades, was appointed chief coach of the women’s team after India failed to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Under him, the team won the Asian Champions Trophy in Rajgir in November last year. But the performances have been on a downward spiral since. India got demoted from the FIH Pro League after finishing last in the 2024-25 season — winning just two out of the 16 matches — and lost to China in the final of the Asia Cup. The team is now staring at the prospect of missing out on the 2026 FIH World Cup.

Sources said Hockey India has identified Dutchman Sjoerd Marijne, who had guided the women’s team to a historic fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics, as a potential successor. Australian great Ric Charlesworth is also on the radar.