Hockey: Senior players give coach Harendra Singh a thumbs up!

Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore (centre) with members of the Indonesia-bound Asian Games contingent during their send-off ceremony at New Delhi yesterday. India are sending 572 athletes for the Games to be held from August 18 to September 2. Pi

Senior players Sardar Singh and Manpreet Singh say having an Indian as the national team-s head coach has broken all communication barriers and tactically too Harendra Singh is no less than any of his foreign counterparts Harendra, who was appointed in May, coached India to a second straight runners-up finish at the Champions Trophy last month.

Manpreet Singh, Harendra Singh and Sardar Singh

"I still remember Harendra paaji had called me to a national camp 15-16 years ago. It is a different feeling working with an Indian coach. We can discuss anything with him under the sun," Sardar said.

There is still time to explain things during training but absorbing coach-s advice during the two-minute break between quarters can be tough. That is where Harendra has made a massive difference. "He has given results, whether it is with the women-s team or the men-s junior side. One big positive [after his arrival] is that we all communicate in Hindi now. With foreigners, even if you miss a single point during those two-minute breaks, it can create confusion," he added. Sardar-s long-time India teammate Manpreet said: "Harendra paaji knows how to make best use of our speedy forwards."

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