Deeply hurt by decision to ban me: Shivendra Singh

Talking exclusively to Zeenews.com`s Biswajit Jha, Shivendra Singh said he is deeply hurt by the decision of banning him.

Ace India forward Shivendra Singh, who was suspended for three matches for deliberately hitting a Pakistan player, expressed anguish after his appeal for lifting the three-match ban was not accepted and just reduced to two matches. Talking exclusively to Zeenews.com’s Biswajit Jha, Shivendra said that though he is deeply hurt by the decision of banning him, India would definitely do well without him.

Excerpts from the interview: What’s your reaction after hearing the decision of reduction of three-match ban to two? I am deeply shocked…I hoped that they would overturn the ban as the video footage clearly suggested that I did not hit Pakistan`s Fareed Ahmed deliberately. But since the International Hockey Federation (FIH) has taken the decision, I have to accept it. Tell us how did it feel when you first came to know that you would be suspended for three-matches? It was a bolt from the blue for me as no one complained against me. What happened that night was there for everyone to see. Actually, I was hit by that Pakistani player. But it is really surprising that I was given the punishment. Do you think that it’s a conspiracy against the Indians? I can’t say anything about that. Will your absence in the next two matches affect the Indian team combination? My absence will lead to more pressure on the other forwards in the team. We have five forwards in the team…but the remaining four are capable enough to fill my void in the next two matches. What were the secrets or rather strategies that helped India beat Pakistan in the first match? We had a plan that we won’t go all out against them. From the past experience we learned that we should guard our defense first and then go for the goals. Since we have some talented drag-flickers in the team, we depended on penalty-corners to get goals. Besides, every member played really well that day. Sandeep was superb… Do India have any chance of winning the World Cup? It’s still a 50-50. I have to play our next two matches well against Australia and Spain. If we win these two matches, then I think we have a very good chance of reaching the semi-finals. Which is the most difficult team in the tournament? I think Australia. They are the best team. Though they lost their first match, still they are my favourite. Besides them, Holland and Germany are the very good sides. Thanks a lot Shivendra… we wish Team India and you a glorious journey ahead in the ongoing World Cup. Thanks a lot.