The Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) is likely to name Germany's Peter Engel as the new head coach of the national team.
TTFI Secretary General Dhanraj Choudhary said that the Federation had recommended the German coach's name to the Sports Authority of India (SAI).
"We have recommended Engel's name for the post of India's foreign coach to SAI. We received 7-8 applications for the post and we shortlisted four of them and sent their names to SAI," Choudhary told PTI.
Engel, who is currently in charge of the Spanish women's team, is expected to come to India in August and fill up the top position that has been lying vacant since the 2012 London Olympics.
"He was coaching with a club in Spain. He is an experienced coach and suits our requirements. He had been an advisor to Achanta Sharath Kamal before and the top Indian player has also supported his name," said Choudhary.
Having started his career as a coach in Germany in 1990, Engel coached the Netherlands national team between 1994 and 1999 before he moved to Spain. He has also coached a number of clubs.
After Poland's Leszek Kucharski was axed by the TTFI after the London Games last year, the Federation was on the lookout for a new coach.
Massimo Costantini, who was India's head coach during the 2010 Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, was suppose to return for another stint but he opted to extend his contract with the Indian Community Centre in California.
