New role, same goals

Four years ago, he was the man who was expected to set India8217;s recent dismal Olympic record straight. Less than a month before Athens, he was sent home packing, in between games in Europe.

Former men8217;s national coach Rajender Singh is busy sharpening girls8217; skills now

Four years ago, he was the man who was expected to set India8217;s recent dismal Olympic record straight. Less than a month before Athens, he was sent home packing, in between games in Europe. He went back to where he came from, working in the shadows, training youngsters at the Union Academy in Delhi.

Now Rajender Singh is on another mission: posted at the SAI academy in Chandigarh, the man is in charge of the development of their women8217;s hockey team. The first step was taken when his team 8212; Government Model Senior Secondary School 8212; pumped in 25 goals past a hapless the Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Raigarh Chattisgarh in their opening match of the Nehru hockey girls under-17 tournament at Shahbad on Tuesday. Captain Reena Khokhar scored eight of those, Manmeet Kaur scored five, Sandeep Kaur scored three, Monika, Shivani Singh, Gurpreet Kaur and Navdeep Kaur had two each against their names, while Ritu Shah Arya scored one.

But Rajinder Singh is far from happy. 8220;This might be a good beginning. But once we move ahead in the tournament and play against better teams, things will get difficult. A scoreline of 25-0 does not mean this team is something special,8221; he says bluntly.

Maybe not for someone who has worked with perhaps the most talented Indian men8217;s line-up in recent times. A while later, though, he admits it is a refreshing difference working with girls. 8220;They have infinite patience,8221; he says with a laugh. 8220;There are no complaints on the amount or hardship of training. On the flipside though, since I am used to working with boys, the different speeds and reaction times sometimes rankle. But that will come with practice, I guess.8221;

Rajinder took charge just over three months back, and he admits to the problems he has been facing. We have just 14 girls, despite trying hard to get more. And during selections, there is more emphasis on fitness than skills. That makes things more difficult for me, as I have to work much harder on making sure they get the basics right,8221; he says.

Despite the shortage of time, Rajinder Singh has been able to organise matches for the girls against the better known team from the Shahbad Academy. 8220;Players like Reena, Monika, Shivani Singh and Ritu are talented, they can be in the national team in a couple of years with proper training and exposure,8221; he says.

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But he knows better than to promise anything, having been on the receiving end of an administration that doesn8217;t believe in continuity. 8220;I hope to get around 40 girls by next year. I can produce at least a couple of talented players for the Indian team. But I can8217;t say how long I will be here. Tomorrow I might be transferred somewhere else,8221; he signs off.

Mizoram school thrash Vadodara girls
In other matches of the day, Government Lallengunga High School, Thenzawl Mizoram thrashed Don Bosco High School, Vadodara Gujarat 27-0. Leading 15-0 at half time, Ramngaihzuali scored nine goals, Lalbiaksailovi scored eight, Lalhmingmawii scored thrice, Lalnunchami and R. Lalnunsangi scored two apiece and Lalsawmpari, Lalrothuami and Julie Tluangi scored one each. Duruelo Convent High School, Mumbai beat NCC Directorate Punjab 4-1 in another match. Anita Kapadiya, Bhagyashree Agarwal, Tosha Kamath and Jemima Moteiro scored for the winners while Ruchika Raghav was the lone scorer for the losing team.