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Indian hockey team left for Hamburg masters to be held in Germany from Friday. With a good blend of youth and experience this time, Indian team will be hoping to do well in the tournament where they have to face teams like Germany, Netherlands and Japan. This tournament will commence on July 2nd and will end on 4th July. PC expert Sandeep Singh was included in the team while playmaker Arjun Halappa was given a rest looking at the future tournaments.
For teams like Germany and Netherlands it will serve as practice tournament before they go to play Champions Trophy. So, the Indian team will have tough task winning the tournament. Last time the team participated in 2003 and won the tournament.
Though India was the last team to accept the invitation and it seems they have accepted so that it can keep the players out of nationals which were going to be conducted by the newly reinstituted IHF.
Along with Hamburg masters, the hockey team will play a three match test series against Belgium from July 5th to 16th and they will end their tour with two test matches against the Dutch team. These tournaments will help the team to get into shape for the CWG games and the Asian games.
Sandeep Singh has been recalled as the PC specialist
Inclusion of Sandeep Singh was a great boost to the team who fared badly in the Penalty Corner department during the SAZ Cup played last month. While Arjun Halappa has been given a well needed rest. Arjun Halappa has a great caliber and he will be needed when India play the Commonwealth Games and Asian Championship.
This tournament has brought some new faces in the team and it will be good to test all these players in the European conditions and help them for future tournaments.
Indian coach Harendra Singh had told the newspaper DNA that the experience will be good for the team as it will give opportunities to new players and help the experience of seniors.
While Indian Captain Rajpal Singh said, “The last European tour proved beneficial for the team and we are hoping for the same. With Sandeep Singh back in team and youngsters like Amir Khan making the squad, there is a good mixture of players and it should be exciting,” said skipper Rajpal Singh. “We are here to do our duty for the nation” said comeback man Sandeep Singh.
With the good performance of the Women’s team, now it is time for the men’s team to go out to win and help the nation to forget all the off field dramas which have been spoiling the game’s image in the country.
