India coach Graham Reid will have selection nightmares for Tokyo Olympics: Harendra Singh 

Indian men's hockey team put in commendable performances as they overcame Olympic champions Argentina twice in the FIH Pro League recently. The visitors started with a 3-2 win via shootout in the first match before registering a comprehensive 3-0 win in the second.

It was an all-round performance from the Indians, with goalkeeper PR Sreejesh in good form at the back and the likes of Harmanpreet Singh, Lalit Upadhyay and Mandeep Singh also impressing.

Former India head coach Harendra Singh, who has taken a new guard with the US men's team, believes that current India coach Graham Reid will have a selection headache while finalising the squad for the Tokyo Olympics.

"Graham Reid is going to have nightmares during the selection of the Indian team in the Olympics," Singh told Olympic Channel.

"With the kind of competition we have in this team, I am sure it’s going to be very difficult to choose the first 16 for Olympics. Harman has become a solid defender and Mandeep is a nippy customer who doesn’t miss a single chance in sticking circle. Amit Rohidas is incredible in penalty corner defending. He is the best in business in the world.

"Consistency is key to success and all these mentioned players are now performing in each and every tournament with some element of improvement like work ethics, re-tackling, passing with precision, etc," he added.

One of the major aspects of India's dominance against Argentina, according to Harendra, was hunger and purpose.

"I think India played positive hockey. We outplayed them in every department like passing, receiving, tackling and of course, fitness and speed. Our boys were hungry for the win. They are playing for a purpose," Harendra said.

And he feels India can end their medal drought at the Olympics this time around in Tokyo. India's last medal in Hockey was the gold at Moscow 1980.

"India is one of the contenders for a Tokyo Olympic medal. I am sure we will get a medal for sure. But I want to see gold again after the 1980 Moscow Olympics," he added.

Harendra overlooked a period with the India men's hockey team where they bagged a silver in the 2018 Champions Trophy and a bronze medal at the 2018 Asian Games, with Graham Reid taking over from him, after a gap of few months.

The former coach, however, has closely observed the growth of the national team ever since then and lauded Reid for bringing in the Australian style of play.

"I think the Australian style of hockey, which is fast and furious, suits us. We Indians also play direct and vertical hockey like the Aussies," the US men's hockey team head coach said.

"He (Graham Reid) is a cool and calm customer and having been for so many years an assistant coach of the legendary Ric Charlesworth, he knows how to get the best out of players," he added.

Harendra, however, warned the Indian players against complacency.

"My only advice to all our players to keep focused, don’t get complacent, keep pushing hard as much as possible because the Olympic medal is in our hand with the team," he concluded.

India are next slated to take on Great Britain in the FIH Hockey Pro League on May 8 and 9th at the Lee Valley Hockey & Tennis Centre, London.