Confident India hit by injuries ahead of Oman match

A confident but injury-hit India would look to rest two its key players when they take on a lowly Oman in their third round-robin league match of the second Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament on Sunday.

Doha: A confident but injury-hit India would look to rest two its key players when they take on a lowly Oman in their third round-robin league match of the second Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament here on Sunday.

With two wins from as many matches, defending champions India have started the tournament on a bright note and would be hoping to continue their winning run in the event. India, who defeated China 4-0 and Japan 3-1 in their opening two games, undoubtedly start as favourites against Oman tomorrow. But injuries to two of its key players -- strikers Dharamvir Singh and S V Sunil -- remains a matter of grave concern for India`s chief coach Michael Nobbs. "Dharamvir and Sunil are doubtful. Sunil has ankle injury and Dharamvir has a shoulder injury. Their x-rays are OK but they have to go for a MRI now," a worried Nobbs said on the eve of the game. While Sunil twisted his ankle in the match against Japan, Dharamvir suffered a shoulder injury in the opener against China. Dharamvir and Sunil are key to India`s strategy upfront and their unavailability means Nobbs will have to depend on young forwards to do the job in the duo`s absence. India, Pakistan and Malaysia, all have won two matches each and have six points in their kitty. But the Sardar Singh-led side is presently lying in the third spot on goal aggregate. PTI