Yellow balls better for ’keepers, says Chetri

Bangalore, May 14, 2012:

Chief Minister felicitates players, coaches

The blue coloured hockey turf for the London Olympics might have received flak from players and coaches but India’s goalkeeper-captain Bharat Chetri said though the turf was slippery the yellow balls improved visibility for the goalkeepers.

“Not much of a difference. But, the pitch is a little fast and we just have to get used to it. The turf was slippery and needs time to settle down. The blue colour of the turf and yellow balls helped me to pick the ball easily. We are going to play more matches on the blue pitch before the Olympics which will help us to get used to the conditions,” Chetri said at a function on Monday, organised by the State government to honour the Karnataka hockey players in the Indian team for their outstanding performances in the Asian Champions Trophy and Olympic Qualifiers.

Chetri, who left for Pune in the evening to join the preparatory camp for the London Olympics under coach Michael Nobbs, said the Olympic test event has helped the team to identify the grey areas needed for improvement before the July 27-August 12 mega event. “The team’s fitness wasn’t a problem but we have to work on our defence and finishing. Despite the losses, overall it was a good experience. We now know where we lack when it comes against big teams. There are some technical issues that we need to work on,” pointed out Chetri, who was hit by viral fever during the London test event and missed most of the action.

“Ignace (Tirkey)?will be rested for the Azlan Shah Cup and the team will more or less be the same as the one that went to London,” he added.

India won the Asian Champions Trophy in Ordos (China) last September by beating arch-rivals Pakistan 4-2 in the tie-breaker while the hosts trounced France 8-1 in New Delhi in February to seal their place in the London Games.

Six hockey players and three coaching staff from Karnataka were given away cheques to the tune of Rs 49 lakh by Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda. “They have all made the state and the country proud and happy. We hope that the Indian team will get the gold medal at the London Oly-mpics,” said Gowda.

Apart from Chetri, Ignace Tirkey, SV Sunil and drag-flicker VR Raghunath, the foursome who played in both the tournaments were richer by Rs 10 lakh each. Promising youngster SK Uthappa, who donned India colours in the Olympic Qualifiers, received Rs five lakh while VS Vinay, who was the standby in the same meet, got Rs one lakh.

Three members of the coaching staff, goalkeeping coach AB?Subbaiah, and assistant coaches BJ Cariappa and Gangadhartapa Shetty took home Rs one lakh each.

Meanwhile, the government has decided to honour 112 national level and international sportspersons for their good performances in the year 2009-10. The amount to be presented will be Rs 1.3 crore.

The Department of Youth Service and Sports will organise an event to honour the sportspersons soon, said a release.