Following a disappointing World Cup run, Hockey India's selection process faces severe criticism over opaque operations, constitutional bypasses, and sidelined panel members.
Following a disappointing World Cup performance by the Indian men's hockey team—ending with a 7th-8th place classification match against Belgium in Wavre—scrutiny has extended beyond head coach Craig Fulton and senior players to the selection process itself. Despite official documentation, Hockey India's selection setup operates under complete opacity.
While Hockey India's website lists 16 selectors meant to rotate duties alongside chief coaches, medical staff, and the High Performance Director, the same handful of individuals are repeatedly assigned selection duties. These include committee chairman R.P. Singh, B.P. Govinda, Balwinder Singh, and Mohd. Riaz. Meanwhile, the post of High Performance Director has sat vacant since September 2024, when Dutchman Herman Kruis completed his six-month tenure.
In contrast, several selectors have been sidelined for years without formal communication. Yuvraj Walmiki and Chinglensana Singh Kangujam have not been invited for selection duties for nearly two years. Walmiki confirmed he was only informed of his removal after calling to offer to travel to Pune for the junior women's Nationals at his own expense. Despite their unannounced removal, both remain listed on Hockey India's website.
Other panel members face similar treatment. Rajnish Mishra and Sameer Dad have not been called for selection duties since 2024, while M.M. Somaya requested to be removed from the panel earlier this year after being repeatedly ignored. Executive committee member Asunta Lakra has also been sidelined amidst a legal battle with HI secretary general Bholanath Singh over harassment issues, while Sardar Singh, Rani Rampal, and Mishra have been wrapped up with sub-junior and Under-18 coaching duties.
Under the Hockey India constitution, the executive committee (EC) must approve the appointment and removal of selectors. However, EC member Asima Ali revealed that the board is regularly bypassed by a few select individuals, including the secretary general, across financial, executive, and personnel decisions.
Excluded selectors also alleged that their recommendations were systematically ignored by HI and the chief coach, including suggestions to transition away from senior players before and after the Paris Olympics. One selector criticized the current setup, noting that when domestic recommendations are ignored and the same 30-odd players are repeatedly rotated, national championships become nothing more than an avenue for jobs.
Reporting sourced from The Hindu Hockey. Photo courtesy The Hindu Hockey.