Kolkata-based Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers have named Australia’s Colin Batch and Glenn Turner as coaches of its men’s and women’s teams respectively for the Hockey India League 2024 season.
Batch was a part of the Australian squad from 1979 to 1990, including his one-year stint as vice-captain. He was a part of the squad that won the World Cup gold medal in 1986 and bronze medals in 1982 and 1990 besides clinching the top podium finish in the Champions Trophy four times.
Turner, meanwhile, was a part of Australia’s 2012 Olympic bronze medal-winning squad. He was a designated striker for the side.
The duo will commence their coaching at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) astroturf ground from December 10 to 19 before shifting to Rourkela for the last leg of the camp. The league is slated to get underway from December 28.
An Indian presence will be marked by coach Romesh Pathania, roped in as the adviser, who will overlook the grooming of players at grassroot level and guide the franchise in building a strong unit.
Tennis great Leander Paes, a city legend and son of Olympic bronze medallist hockey player Vece Paes, said, “The grassroots feeder system needs to improve in India. Shrachi Sports looks at the full pyramid of sports.”
