Former India hockey coach Michael Nobbs loses battle with cancer

NEW DELHI: Former India men’s hockey team coach Michael Nobbs, who reintroduced Aussieslike aggression and counter-attacking styles of field play after the team had fallen into the rut of European defensive skill sets, passed away at his home in Melbourne on Thursday after losing a long-running battle with lung cancer, which was first detected in March 2020.

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Nobbs, who coached the Bharat Chettri-led men’s side at the 2012 London Olympics, was 72. Nobbs’ India coaching stint lasted from June 2011 to July 2013.

Nobbs was a member of the Australian team at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. His subsequent transition to full-time coaching made him one of the most respected tacticians in world hockey.

He focused on counter-attacking strategies inspired by Australian methods and relied on a scientific approach. Nobbs successfully defeated cancer when it was initially diagnosed five years ago but suffered a relapse earlier last year.

Nobbs took over the reins of the Indian men’s team at a particularly tough time. The highlight of Nobbs’ tenure was India’s qualification for the 2012 Olympics in London after the Beijing fall without losing a single match (six in total) during the qualifiers. However, India had a disappointing campaign in London, where the Chettri-led side finished last among 12 nations.


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