Capping days of suspense, the Indian Hockey Federation on Thursday decided to retain Rajinder
Singh Junior as national hockey coach for the upcoming Test series against Pakistan and Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, in March.
It was widely speculated that Rajinder was on his way out after he left his stint with Hyderabad Sultans midway through in Premier Hockey League, which concluded in Chandigarh on Wednesday, to attend to his parents.
Even as contradictory reports on his fate as coach did the rounds, the IHF chose to remain mum on the issue.
IHF chief K P S Gill, however, put the lid on the matter on Thursday when he defended the coach despite the team having spiralled down the success charts during his tenure.
"If a player cannot defend a ball then what can a coach do about it?" Gill said.
He said the issue was discussed at length after which the Federation decided to retain him.
Gill was flanked by IHF secretary K Jothikumaran as he made the announcement on the sidelines of naming of the squad for the two important assignments.
Rajinder was appointed to the job, left and taken up by dozens over the past few years, last year and it is believed he was contracted with the IHF till December 2005.
More from rediff