Former Indian captain MP Ganesh was just too shocked to react but said: “We are finished. People should wake up and re-establish the whole setup.”

Karnataka State Cricket Association secretary K Krishnamurthy, a known critic of IHF president KPS Gill, said: “It is really sad. Losing to Britain twice is not good at all. I also blame the players for not rising to the occasion. “Having Ric Charlesworth as the technical advisor, why was he not in Santiago with the team,” Krishnamurthy questioned. “His experience would have come in handy.”

Asked what future course of action he would suggest, Krishnamurthy said: “All state associations should call for an AGM and there should be a revamp of the IHF.

“If there is a new body, I may even contest.”Chief coach’s Joaquim Carvalho’s predecessor and Olympian V Baskaran, who captained the gold-medal winning 1980 team in Moscow, said from Chennai: “I feel very bad. The world will miss India playing.

“The players are just not able to take the mental pressure. I fail to understand why players, who did not do well in the last World Cup and Asian Games, were picked again.

“But then, removing everyone is also not the solution. Good planning is needed. We should pick good juniors, think long term and set goals. With the team, there should be a full-fledged support staff.”

Support
Coming out in support of Joaquim Carvalho, Baskaran said: “Joaquim should have not resigned. I understand there would have been pressure but then getting a new coach is a headache.”

Former Indian forward and assistant coach Jagbir Singh said: “We had not learnt our lessons after the game against Austria. This team has not performed like the way they did in the Asia Cup. The bad show at the Doha Asian Games was the last call.

“I also do not understand why Ric Charlesworth was not in Santiago. Why he was not there when he is the technical advisor. Nothing is clear,” the Olympian felt.

One of the heroes of the Bangkok Asiad gold-medal winning team, Ashish Ballal said: “It is disappointing. But we have to see this positively and change the way we look at hockey. People should step down. A new set of people with passion should come forward and work. And we should stop this honorary business. All should be paid so that they can be held accountable,” the Olympian added.

FORMER PLAYERS SPEAK OUT

*I am shocked, most hurt as I have had a long association with hockey. Today, I feel like I have lost a close relative.
It will be easy to criticise two or three people, but that will not lead us to any solution. We have to rectify the system as a whole. The Government should stop step-motherly treatment towards our national game.
It won’t be fair to blame the coach alone. We should try to overhaul the system, otherwise even minnows like Canada will race ahead of us.
— Balbir Singh Senior (former captain and Olympian)

*It’s time the IHF office-bearers, including president KPS Gill and secretary K Jothikumaran, take moral responsibility and resign immediately.
It was not surprising that the Indian hockey team has failed to qualify for the Olympics. It was expected due to the performance of the IHF.
Narender Batra’s resignation will adversely affect the functioning of IHF as Gill and Jothikumaran will be free to ruin Indian hockey further.
— Pargat Singh (former captain and Olympian)

*We have created a bad piece of history with this defeat in Santiago. It’s the worst day for Indian hockey. It’s time to replace the top officials of the federation.
The Indian Hockey Federation  never tried to take the help of players like me who have played for the country so long.
— Dhanraj Pillay (former captain and Olympian)

*People who are asking for Gill’s head should also realise that people like Jothikumaran and (Uttar Pradesh association official) J N Tyagi should also go.
In the last one year, there were no major matches. The Asia Cup is different where the Pakistan team was depleted. We should have played in Europe instead of going to Australia to play some provincial team. Besides, the team could not handle pressure.
— AB Subbaiah (former goalkeeper and Olympian)

*We have been asking for it. But no individual can change the system. It’s upto the associations who are the voters. It matters who they want.
It’s an unfortunate and sad day. But such things happen and we should look positively at the future. Under Carvalho, the team was doing well and he should continue till the Commonwealth Games.
— Zafar Iqbal (former captain and Olympian)

*It was a poor match. There was lack of composure and discipline. Two yellow cards in an crucial game like this is not good. We were lucky not to concede six more goals. The defence was poor, the half line non-existent and the forwards were invisible.
It’s sad that Ric Charlesworth's services were not utilised. He was not even allowed to go to Chile. Why? His advice could have helped. Only due tot he ego of some people, he was kept out of the loop.
— Viren Rasquinha (former captain and Olympian)

*It is the saddest day for Indian hockey. The Indian Federation top brass, including its president and coach, should step down immediately and pave way for fresh people.
— Gagan Ajit Singh (former captain and Olympian)