New Delhi: Hockey India President A K Mattoo today cleared the air over Sandeep Singh's participation in next month's Chammpions Challenge tournament and 2010 World Cup, saying the ace drag-flicker has recovered from his back injury and is expected to be part of both the events.
"I am 100 per cent certain Sandeep will play in the World
Cup. How can you decide about whether a player would be in the
World Cup team three months before the tournament," Mattoo
told reporters here during the Presenting Partner agreement
signing function between Steel Authority of India Limited and
International Hockey Federation.
"He will be there in the team. He had a back injury but
he has come out of that. Sandeep will also play in Champions
Challenge," he added.
Sandeep's participation in both the events came under
cloud after chief coach Jose Brasa earlier this week said that
the back injury, which he sustained during last month's Canada
tour, will see the drag-flicker out of both Champions
Challenge to be held in Salta, Argentina, from December 6 to
13.
Sandeep was subsequently replaced by Rajpal Singh as the
skipper of the national team for Champions Challenge from Dec
6-13 but Mattoo overruled the decision, saying they are yet to
finalise the captain.
Bureau Report
First Published: Friday, November 20, 2009, 18:05