March 11, 2008	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 2, 1429

NEW DELHI, March 10: India’s field hockey coach Joaquim Carvalho resigned on Monday after the eight-time Olympic champions failed to qualify for the Beijing Games.

India crashed to a 2-0 defeat to Great Britain in the final of the qualifying tournament in Santiago, Chile on Sunday night, ending a proud record of having played in every Olympics since 1928.

“When I took over 11 months ago, I had said I would resign if I cannot deliver results,” Carvalho told Indian media in Santiago.

“So now I am keeping my word. I am as disappointed and hurt as any other Indian hockey fan.”

Indian Hockey Confederation vice-president Narendra Batra also resigned, hoping to put pressure on the entire IHC administration, led by Kunwar Pratap Singh Gill, to step down.

“I am ashamed because all of us have failed,” said Batra. “This is the lowest point in Indian hockey and we in the federation must take the blame for it.”—AFP