New Delhi, Nov 24: India and Pakistan need to learn from European countries and play more friendly matches to improve the level of hockey in the sub-continent, Indian hockey captain Dhanraj Pillai said here today. "Both the countries have lots of potential when it comes to hockey, but to strengthen the sport in the sub-continent arch-rivals need to play friendly matches," Pillai told.
The way European countries have improved their games by playing friendly matches against each other quiet often. We need to learn from them and play friendly matches against each other to improve the game in the region, he said.
He was in the national capital to attend a function of Hemophilia Federation of India on its 20th anniversary.
Apart from improving the game in the sub-continent matches between the two countries would help people of both the countries come close and understand each other, he said.
On his preparedness for the upcoming championship he said, "One has to be real strong to find a place in the national team. Even at this age I can beat an 18-year-old boy in race."
The captain, however, quipped both the questions relating to his plans for retirement as well as marriage. "I do not have anything of that sort in my mind. As of now I am only concentrating on the Olympics," he said.
Having won most of the prestigious tournaments in the past India had a not so good phase for a relatively long duration, he said they began using technology long before we did and that was why we were left behind.
"But now we have also adapted ourselves to those modern techniques and the result is for everyone to see," Pillai added.

Bureau Report