Rajinder Jr lashes out at IHF, says he was not given a stable team

Jalandhar, Apr 13 (UNI) Rajinder Singh (Jr), who was recently sacked as national coach, today lashed out at the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) saying that team performance during his stint was hampered by constant chopping of players.

''Players were included one day and excluded the next day without any reasons. So, I reaped the harvest which others had sown. Still, I worked with dedication and was able to get the best out of the team,'' Rajinder, who remained as coach from May last year to March 30 this year, told UNI here.

''I had worked sincerely during my stint with the Indian hockey team as the chief coach and achieved some degree of success despite facing numerous problems,'' Rajinder said.

He said despite bogged down by a number of problems, he kept on working hard and as a result was able to reduce the margin of victory against the powerhouse European teams.

''All the matches India lost against Australia, Holland, Spain, Germany were very closely-fought affairs and the margin of victory was very narrow,'' he added.

Rajinder said his team won the three-match series against Pakistan on their home soil with two draws and one win.

''This was the first time that India defeated Pakistan in Pakistan afer they (Pakistan) had won the Indian leg,'' he added.

He also wished the Gagan Ajit Singh-led Indian team to win in the Four-Nation International Hockey Tournament to be played in Germany from April 15.

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