Ending all speculation over the future of national coach Rajinder Singh (Jr), the Indian Hockey Federation on Tuesday said the former international would continue in his post till next year's World Cup.

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IHF President K P S Gill said Rajinder, whose appointment was a stop-gap arrangement for the just-concluded Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia, would continue to hold charge till the mega event to be held in Monchengladbach in Germany [Images] in September next year.

During the period, India is scheduled to play several important tournaments including the Champions Trophy in Chennai in December, the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in March next year besides a few bilateral series.

"He (Rajinder Singh) will be there, at least till the World Cup. He is the right man (to be in the post). Since he will be there till the World Cup he will be the coach in other tournaments before the event," Gill said in New Delhi.

The IHF President also gave enough indication that he was not in favour of having a foreign coach for the team.

"Look what happened to Pakistan. They spent crore of rupees on the foreign coach, but I don't think he could bring about a change in the performance of the side," he said.

Rajinder, who became India's coach after the unceremonious exit of German Gerhard Rach, seemed to have pleased the IHF with his work in the Azlan Shah Cup even though the team finished fifth in the seven-nation event.

"India had to play with several youngsters with many of them playing their first international tournament. They did fairly well," Gill said.

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