After guiding the Indian men's team to the junior World Cup title last year, Harendra Singh has now been given the responsibility of coaching the Indian women's side. His first challenge with the side would be the Asia Cup beginning on 28th October. Singh spoke to Akshay Sharma about his plans and ambitions for the women's team
How do you look at this challenge that you have been given of coaching the Indian women's teamIJ
I am very excited to have this job and want to achieve more with the women's team. The girls in the team have been part of the system for 4-5 years, so they are fully familiar with how things are done. The only thing I want to change is their mindset regarding how they approach a tournament.
Can you elaborate on the point of changing the mindset of the teamIJ
I have always said that whenever we go into a tournament, we shouldn't judge our chances by looking at the rankings. The girls shouldn't think that they are there just to participate but instead should think about winning the tournament or at least finishing on the podium. That is the mindset I want to introduce in this side.
Both as individuals and as a team, we should always set the target as high as we can. I don't believe in setting targets 'realistic' targets. If I am coaching, it is to win the tournament and not for achieving a 'realistic' target.
The girls should also understand that they are here to win a medal for the country. They have the skill and the stamina and just need to know how to combine all of them to get on the podium.
Many saw you as the frontrunner for the job of men's team's coach after the sacking of Roelant Oltmans. So were you surprised when you were offered this responsibility insteadIJ
I just want to be associated with hockey as it is my passion. I always want to be in a hockey camp. It doesn't matter in which capacity. The important thing is to guide the individuals and the team on how to win.
What do you identify as the strength of this Indian team and which are the areas that need to be worked uponIJ
People always talk about the weaknesses and strengths. I am going to tell them their strengths because it is on account of them that you win and not on account of weaknesses. Sometimes by focusing too much on one's weaknesses, you can forget to use your strengths. I want them to use their strengths.
They should also know which skill they need to use and where. I want to bring about a change in their decision making process as well. Individual decision making and collective decision making both have to be worked upon. Once you sort out these two things, the strengths will automatically come to the fore.
Considering that you coached and nurtured a lot of young players in the men's junior team, would you also try to bring in more youngsters in this sideIJ
For me, there are no young or old players. As long as somebody is fit and eager to perform for the country, I consider them to be young. The day they lose their fitness and hunger to perform, they become old for me. So, I don't judge players by their age. As long as they are fit and determined, they are young.
Are you looking at next year's World Cup in England as a long term goalIJ
The year 2018 is very crucial for us as we have the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games as well as the World Cup. But before that we have the Asia Cup. I want to start my tenure with a good result and a podium finish in the Asia Cup. The road to 2018 will start this year itself with the Asia Cup as the first stop.
In 2002, Indian women's team won the Gold at Commonwealth Games and in 2004 they won the Asia Cup. Why hasn't the women's team able to capitalize on those performances and become a top sideIJ
That happened due to various reasons and I can't pinpoint one. I am not looking back but focusing on this team and taking it forward from the Asia Cup to 2020 Olympics. I personally believe that if we as a country are talking about women empowerment, it has to start from women's hockey team.
As a coach, do you want your players to play in the traditional Indian style with lots of dribbling and short passes or would you like them to adopt the new faster style of hockeyIJ
This is something I have been asked many times. For me, what is required at a particular moment should be done. If its short passes, then use them. If long passes are required, play them. If you talk about the Indian style of hockey, it still exists. But we have to teach our players when and how to use that style.
If you have the skill, nobody is stopping you from using them but use it at the right time and in the right way. That is more important. Our job as coaches is to guide the players. For me, at the end of the day, whether one plays in the Indian style or European style, they are playing to get results and they will come when you know how to defend and you know how to score.