India’s Tokyo 2020 Olympics coach Graham Reid joins Delhi team

Former Indian head coach Graham Reid is set to take charge of the Delhi team in the Hockey India League 2024-25, Hockey Western Australia (WA) confirmed on Friday.

Reid, currently Hockey WA’s General Manager of Asian Engagement, will lead the Delhi team in the Hockey India League (HIL) from December to February.

The Delhi franchise, owned by Indian tennis legend Mahesh Bhupathi’s SG Sports and Entertainment, is yet to confirm whether Reid will coach the men’s, women’s, or both teams.

Reid, who represented Australia in over 100 internationals and was part of the silver medal-winning team at Barcelona 1992, served as the head coach of the Indian men's hockey team from April 2019 to January 2023.

During Reid’s tenure, India won the historic bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham and a third-place finish at the FIH Pro League 2021-22.

Graham Reid also helped India win the FIH Series Final in 2019 and orchestrated India’s Tokyo 2020 qualifying campaign.

The HIL 2024-25 is scheduled to be played from December 28 to February 1 at two venues - Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astroturf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi and Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela.

The sixth edition of the hockey league, to be held after a seven-year hiatus, will see eight teams competing in the men’s tournament and six in the women’s event. The women’s league will make its debut.

Both the men’s and women’s competitions will run simultaneously during the window exclusively reserved for the HIL by the International Hockey Federation (FIH), ensuring the availability of the top foreign players.

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