GUANGZHOU: India’s national coach Harendra Singh resigned on Tuesday soon after his team crashed to a 4-3 defeat to Malaysia in the Asian Games men’s field hockey semi-final.
The loss, sparked by a golden goal from penalty corner ace Amin Rahim, meant India will have to go through the qualification rounds to book a berth for the 2012 London Olympics.
Only the winner of Thursday’s gold medal clash between Malaysia and Pakistan will be granted a direct entry to the Olympics. Singh wrote out his resignation letter to Hockey India chiefs soon after the match, saying he took “moral responsibility” for the defeat.
“Keeping in view the dismal performance in the semi-final, I hereby tender my resignation as the national coach of the men’s hockey team with immediate effect,” he wrote in the letter. “I accept moral responsibility for the debacle at the Asian Games.”
India’s chief coach, Spaniard Jose Brasa, whose contract ends after the Games, said he was unsure if he will be granted an extension. “I don’t think it (an extension) will happen,” said Brasa. India are due to play South Korea for the bronze medal on Thursday.
