Former Australian field hockey player Graham Reid who led India during the 2023 FIH Hockey World Cup has resigned from his post of head coach after the event ended on January 29 in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Joining him in leaving the side in analytical Coach Greg Clark and Scientific Advisor Mitchell David Pemberton. All three of them handed in their letters on Monday morning.
"Reid and his team of support staff have been part of the Indian Team's historic Bronze Medal feat at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, Silver Commonwealth Games medal in 2022, as well as securing third place in the FIH Hockey Pro League season in 2021/22.
"Among Reid's successful outing as Chief Coach with the team includes the FIH Series Final title victory in 2019, subsequently the team broke no sweat in making the qualification for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 when they won the Qualifiers in Bhubaneswar back in 2019," the official statement on their website read.
Opening up on his stint with the Indian side since 2019, Reid said, "It is now time for me to step aside and handover the reigns to the next management. It has been an honour and privilege to work with the team and Hockey India and I have enjoyed every moment of this epic journey. I wish the team all the very best.”
His time with the outfit also drew the praise of the president of Hockey India, Dilip Tirkey. "India will always have gratitude towards Graham Reid and his team of support staff who have brought good results to the country, particularly the Olympic Games. As all journeys move to different phases, it is now time for us to move on towards a new approach for our team,” the official statement read.
India finished ninth, failing to win yet another medal at the quadrennial event hosted in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela. The eventual winner was Germany after they beat Belgium in a penalty shootout in the final.
