Now Halappa rues unavailability of video referral in CWG

NEW DELHI: Veteran India hockey player Arjun Halappa is the latest to criticise the unavailability of video referral system in the Commonwealth Games, saying like any other big event, technology should have been utilised in the quadrennial extravaganza starting from Sunday.

Arjun was caught off-guard when asked whether he was in favour of using the referral system in the Commonwealth Games, saying he had no clue that technology will not be in service in hockey during the Delhi edition of the event.

“Are you sure referral system is not there?” he asked.

“I didn’t know it. But if you ask me, I feel video referral should have been there. It can catch small mistakes which ultimately makes the difference between a win and a loss.

“Now all sports are employing technology to make the game as much error-free as possible. Tennis has already employed technology and FIFA is also considering it after the goof-up in the England-Germany match during the World Cup. It is better for the game,” Halappa added.

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has used the video referral system at all major tournaments since 2006, the recent being the World Cup here earlier this year.

But it will not be functioning in the Commonwealth Games, courtesy the organisers’ reluctance to put in place the system.

The decision to do away with referral system has come in for sharp criticism from some participating teams with Australian coach Ric Charlesworth and veteran striker Jamie Dwyer lamenting the lack of technology’s use.

Asked about India’s preparation for the Commonwealth Games, in which they have failed to make it to the podium since hockey’s introduction in 1998, Halappa said they are eyeing nothing less than a semifinal place at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium.

He also said that the team has put behind their World Cup disappointment, where they finished a lowly eighth, and are determined to use the opportunity as good preparation for the next month’s Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.

“All the guys have worked hard after the World Cup. Everybody has put in extra effort. The important thing was to work upon our mistakes and we did that.

“We have now started winning crucial matches but what matters most is performance in big tournaments like the Delhi Games, Olympics, Asian Games etc. I am pretty confident that we will make the semis but we will take one match at a time,” Halappa said.

” Commonwealth Games is very important for us as it comes just before the Asiad. It is a build up tournament for us before the Asiad. It will give us good match practice against some strong teams of the world in Australia and Pakistan,” he added.

Meanwhile, India on Saturday defeated Trinidad and Tobago 5-3 in their final practice match ahead of the Commonwealth Games.

With this win, India rounded off their warm-up campaign on an unbeaten note, having defeated England twice and drawn once apart from getting the better of South Africa in another practice game.

Clubbed alongside world champions Australia and arch-rivals Pakistan in Pool A, India will start their Games campaign against Malaysia on October 5.