New Delhi, May 07: Indian Hockey Federation chief K P S Gill today came out in complete support of the federation’s decision of leaving Dhanraj Pillay and two others out from the 10-day conditioning camp for Athens Olympics.
In a one-to-one with Zee News correspondent Shivendra Kumar Singh, Gill dismissed Dhanraj Pillay’s medical report, which deems him medically fit. “ Players like Dhanraj Pillay, Baljit Singh Dhillon, Baljit Singh Saini have lost faith in themselves and that is why this controversy has being raked up. The federation doesn’t trust any medical reports submitted by them,” said Gill.
He also blamed media for giving too much attention to the whole issue. “The Olympic camp hasn’t even started and all this controversy has been raked up only because the media is giving them unconditional support. I am tired of giving explanations on the issue, I will speak in Punjabi if you don’t understand Hindi and English,” said Gill.
Gill attributed changes in the national squad to the Australian tour. “The seniors didn’t perform to their potential in Australia, so we tried with juniors and they have performed brilliantly. It’s an achievement for Indian hockey,” said Gill.
Earlier talking to Zee News, Secretary, Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) Jyoti Kumaran said that Pillay was excluded on fitness grounds. When asked whether this means exclusion from the Olympics too, he denied such speculation saying there were still three months to go and anything could happen. He, however, was forthright in his dismissal of rumours of a tussle between Dhanraj Pillay and the IHF President KPS Gill.
Meanwhile, exclusion of Pillay is snowballing into a major issue with ex-players, politicians and journalists holding protest rallies.

Replying to a question on penalty corner specialist Jugraj Singh`s inclusion in fitness camp at Barog after a career-threatening street accident, Gill said, “He has great motivation level and will take the team to great heights.”
But Gill added that the decision on Jugraj’s inclusion in the team for Olympics will depend on his fitness levels after the camp.
Gill also hinted on getting a foreign coach for the Indian team before the Athens Olympics in the final conditioning camp in Germany. “We are looking to have a foreign coach, who will guide the players on their game as well as on their fitness,” said Gill.
When asked about the major problems Indian hockey is facing today, he said, “We need to sort out the problem of short corner.”
Bureau Report