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Flushed with success, Indian hockey team primed for Afro-Asian Games
New Delhi, Oct 10: Indian hockey team train for Afro-Asian games later this month. The Indian hockey team has begun its practice session for the first Afro-Asian games to be held in India`s southern Hyderbad from October 24.
New Delhi, Oct 10: Indian hockey team train for Afro-Asian games later this month. The Indian hockey team has begun its practice session for the first Afro-Asian games to be held in India's southern Hyderbad from October 24.
The team, fresh from winning the Asian title, began training earlier this week at the National Stadium in national capital New Delhi. After several years, the sub-continent hockey giants India and Pakistan will face each other in either of their countries. So far, they have played against each other at other international venues. India have rested six key players including captain Dhanraj Pillai who played in the Asia Cup without ascribing proper reasoning. However, coach Rajinder Singh is optimistic about his team's chances in the tournament. "All the players have played in some international tournaments, they have a lot of exposure, even the ones who have joined us from the junior team. There is no pressure because we are playing on home ground and there will be a lot of support. The only pressure probably would be, to live up to the recent performance of the Asia Cup," Singh said.
His players also share the same view that India will feel little pressure being on the home turf but they are prepared for any battle.
"Yes, there may be a little pressure on the team being the hosts, but then we are not in tension. Now, we are really focussing on the Afro-Asian games," said Dilip Tirki.
The Afro-Asian Games which is going to cost 1.3 billion rupees, will see a participation of almost 2,400 atheletes besides 800 officials from Asia and Africa in eight disciplines.
Bureau Report
The team, fresh from winning the Asian title, began training earlier this week at the National Stadium in national capital New Delhi. After several years, the sub-continent hockey giants India and Pakistan will face each other in either of their countries. So far, they have played against each other at other international venues. India have rested six key players including captain Dhanraj Pillai who played in the Asia Cup without ascribing proper reasoning. However, coach Rajinder Singh is optimistic about his team's chances in the tournament. "All the players have played in some international tournaments, they have a lot of exposure, even the ones who have joined us from the junior team. There is no pressure because we are playing on home ground and there will be a lot of support. The only pressure probably would be, to live up to the recent performance of the Asia Cup," Singh said.
His players also share the same view that India will feel little pressure being on the home turf but they are prepared for any battle.
"Yes, there may be a little pressure on the team being the hosts, but then we are not in tension. Now, we are really focussing on the Afro-Asian games," said Dilip Tirki.
The Afro-Asian Games which is going to cost 1.3 billion rupees, will see a participation of almost 2,400 atheletes besides 800 officials from Asia and Africa in eight disciplines.
Bureau Report