Worn-out turf forces national hockey camp to shift to Pune

BANGALORE: The national hockey camp has been shifted from the Sports Authority of India to the Balewadi facility in Pune after the worn-out artificial turf at the south centre was found to be too risky for high-intensity training.

The hockey think-tank, which has been mulling this option since last week after players expressed their apprehensions about the turf, decided that Pune would be the best option in terms of weather and the facilities. SAI endorsed the decision on Tuesday, it is learnt.

The decision comes as a big blow to SAI Bangalore, which has been touted as the national training centre for hockey. Chief coach Michael Nobbs was reassuring when he said that his vision for Bangalore remained intact but was equally resolute as he pointed out that the team would prefer to train elsewhere until the turf is replaced at the South Centre.

The decision has prompted an exodus of sorts, with more than 100 campers — both seniors and juniors — set to leave the south centre and assemble in Pune by Sunday. Training will begin from Monday. “We will be training in Pune until we go to the four-nation Olympic test event in May. Even upon return, we will not train in Bangalore if the turf is not replaced,” Nobbs said.