Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers Appoint Australian Coaches for Hockey India League Debut
Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers, the Kolkata-based franchise making its debut in the Hockey India League (HIL) this year, has appointed Australian coaches Colin Batch and Glenn Turner to lead its men’s and women’s teams, respectively.
The franchise announced the appointments at a press conference in Kolkata on Wednesday. The Bengal Tigers teams will begin training at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) astro-turf ground in Kolkata from December 10 to 19 before moving to Rourkela for the final leg of the camp ahead of the HIL’s start on December 28.
Colin Batch, a former Australian international and Olympic gold medalist, brings a wealth of experience to the Bengal Tigers. He has previously coached the Australian women’s team and the Indian men’s team. Glenn Turner, also a former Australian international, has extensive experience in coaching at the club and national levels.
Romesh Pathania, a renowned coach who has been roped in as the Bengal Tigers’ advisor, emphasized the franchise’s commitment to building a strong team and developing grassroots hockey in West Bengal. “We want to create a team that can compete at the highest level,” Pathania said. “But we also want to focus on grooming young players and preparing them for the future.”
Tennis icon Leander Paes, whose father Vece Paes was an Olympic bronze medalist in hockey, expressed his support for the franchise. “The grassroots feeder system needs to improve in India,” Paes said. “Shrachi Sports looks at the full pyramid of sports.”
The Bengal Tigers’ debut in the HIL is a significant development for hockey in West Bengal. The franchise aims to create a sustainable ecosystem for the sport, from grassroots development to elite-level competition.
