The Indian Hockey Federation on Tuesday appointed Rajinder Singh Junior as the new coach of the national team for the Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament, beginning May 26.

The 46-year-old former India player replaces controversial German coach Gerhard Rach.

Rach was shown the door following the team's poor showing under him in international tournaments, which includes the Athens Olympics, last August, where India placed seventh out of 12 teams.

Speaking to rediff.com in New Delhi, IHF president K P S Gill said, "Rajinder's appointment is only for the Azlan Shah tournament. His continuation will depend upon how the team performs. He is a man of tremendous patience and is probably one of the best coaches in the country at the moment."

Rajinder, who was a member of the team that lost to Pakistan 1-7 in the final of the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi, is coach of National champions Punjab and Sind Bank since the team's formation 17 years ago. He also represented India at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics [Images].

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