The Indian men’s hockey team’s selection process leaves a lot to be desired

With the Indian men’s hockey team returning a disappointing performance at the recent World Cup, questions have already been raised over coach Craig Fulton’s role and the continuation of several senior players in the side.

But what has gone unnoticed is the role of selectors; specifically, the ones who selected the team. However, questioning the selectors is easier said than done, given the complete opacity around Hockey India’s selection committee and its workings.

According to the Hockey India website itself, there are 16 selectors that take turns for selection duty besides the chief coaches, scientific advisors / doctors / physiotherapists and the High Performance Director. In reality, the same people have been going around for years.

Consider this: Yuvraj Walmiki and Chinglensana Singh Kangujam, the youngest of the lot, have not been informed or invited for selection duties for almost two years.

Rajnish Mishra, also the secretary of Uttar Pradesh Hockey Association, hasn’t been called since 2024 either, as has Sameer Dad. M.M. Somaya had already written earlier this year requesting to be removed as a selector after being repeatedly ignored.

Sardar Singh and Rani Rampal, as chief coaches of the men’s and women’s national sub-junior sides respectively, have remained wrapped up with team duties. Mishra too has been entrusted Under-18 coaching duties along with Sardar.

Asunta Lakra, also an executive committee member and currently in a legal battle with HI secretary general Bholanath Singh over harassment issues, has been sidelined.

The post of High Performance Director has been vacant since September 2024, when Dutchman Herman Kruis’s six-month tenure got over. The ones that seem to repeatedly be entrusted with the responsibility to select the national teams include B.P. Govinda, Balwinder Singh, Mohd. Riaz besides R.P. Singh in his role as the chairman.

“I wasn’t called for selection duties for almost two years. Only when I myself called up to suggest that I travel from Mumbai for the junior women’s Nationals recently in Pune on my own was I told that I had been, in fact, already removed as a selector,” Walmiki confirmed to The Hindu.

Federation sources confirmed Chinglensana too has been removed but they both remain listed on the website and there has not been any formal intimation to either.

As per the Hockey India constitution, selectors are appointed by the executive committee as per federation rules and need its approval to be removed as well. In reality, the EC is hardly ever consulted.

“The executive board has been completely bypassed by a few select people including the secretary general — whether it is appointments, dismissals, executive or financial decisions, everything. These are people who have been convicted in a court of law for contempt! It is frankly frustrating,” EC member Asima Ali admitted.

“Many of the younger selectors had insisted on moving ahead after Paris. In fact, they had suggested putting a plan in place even before Paris, knowing that it could be the end for some senior players. But HI and the chief coach persisted with them and overruled everyone who opposed. Over time, we have not been called up even for domestic competitions,” one selector alleged.

Another simply shrugged it off. “What’s the point of going to domestic competitions anyway when no new name is included in the national camps or our recommendations not even looked at? If the same 30-odd players are to be rotated, national championships become only an avenue for jobs,” he said.