Former captain and coach of the national team MP Ganesh has been appointed as the Head of the National Hockey Academy, Delhi to be based at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium.
An Arjuna awardee, Ganesh played for India at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, finishing third. He was one of the coaches of the Indian team that won a gold medal at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow.
Ganesh last played for India in 1974 before his career was cut short by a knee injury.
Ganesh was serving as the CEO of Karnataka State Cricket Association.
The National Hockey Academy in New Delhi is a joint venture of the Sports Authority of India and the sports ministry aimed at identifying junior hockey talent and facilitating their holistic development.
The National Hockey Academy, which took two years to be set up, will be a residential project for 40 boys and an equal number of girls below the age of 18.
About 70 players from each category have been shortlisted by Hockey India selectors from the sub-junior Nationals held recently. After a few weeks of trials, the numbers will be brought down to 40. There will be three coaches each for the boys and girls.
