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. So now I am keeping my word. I am as disappointed and hurt as any other Indian hockey fan," Carvalho told Indian media in Santiago.

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

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

There was, however, no reaction from Gill, the former supercop credited with wiping out Sikh militancy in Punjab in the 1980s.

Batra was, however, unsure if any attempt would be made to overhaul the sport's administration.

"Is anyone really concerned? The sports ministry has already demoted hockey as a priority sport although it remains our national sport," he said.