Struggling India name new hockey coach

New Delhi: Indian Hockey Federation on Friday appointed Joachuim Carvalho as the head coach of the men’s national side that appears to be in disarray.

Mahinder Pal Singh has been appointed as the coach while Ramesh Parmeswaran, who played for India at the 1978 Asian Games, has been named as the assistant coach of the struggling side.

Carvalho has been appointed the coach until the Olympic qualifiers, but his coaching staff’s fate will be under constant scrutiny as the IHF is looking at "long-term" targets.

"This type and level of coaches are not easily available and certainly not at short notice, hence we have to appoint a chief coach (Carvalho) in view of the preparations for the prestigious Sultan Azlan Shah Cup," IHF Secretary K Jothikumaran said in a press release.

"Our main target is to win the Champions Challenge at Belgium (June 23 to July 1) and to qualify for the Olympics," it said.

"The appointments are till the Olympic qualifiers," Jothikumaran told PTI.

V Bhaskaran, the earlier coach, was sacked after India’s disastrous performances especially at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha.

However, the list of 31 probables for the Indian team picked for the Sultan Azlan Shah tournament in Malaysia didn’t include experienced hands Ignace Tirkey and Arjun Halappa.

Drag-flicker Sandeep Singh, who was recovering from a bullet injury suffered before the World Cup last year, has been named among the probables.

Premier Hockey League champions Orissa Steelers has the highest number of representatives this year with at least nine of its players being included among the probables.

The camp for the probables will be held at the Sports Authority of India Centre in Bangalore from April 2 to 30.

Probables:

Goalkeepers: Adrian D’ Souza, Sreejesh, Bharat Chetri, Baljit Singh, Dinesh Ekka. Full Backs: Dilip Tirkey, William Xalxo, Raghunath, Harpal Singh, Sandeep Singh. Mid-fielders: Pawal Lakra, Gurbaj Singh, Dhananjay Mahadik, Prabodh Tirkey, Sardara Singh, Senthil Kumar, Bimal Lakra, Sunil Yadav, Vickram Kanth. Forwards: Shivendra Singh, Tushar Khandker, Damandeep Singh, Bruno Hadrian, Sunil Ekka, Roshan Minz, Jarnail Singh, V. Raja, Gagan Ajit Singh, Ravi Pal, Bharat Chikara, Sarwan Singh.

Officials: Joaquim Carvalho (Chief Coach), M P Singh (Coach), Ramesh Parmeswaran (Assistant Coach), Srikanth (Physio).

(With inputs from PTI)