Harender defends selection of seniors in team for Argentina

Indian hockey team’s coach-incharge Harender Singh on Monday hit back at the criticism of the selection of seniors like Deepak Thakur and Prabhjot Singh for the tour of Argentina, saying fitness was the criteria for picking the squad and not age. “Players like Deepak Thakur, Prabhjot Singh, Dilip Tirkey and Arjun Halappa’s talent can never be doubted. They are good play-makers who showed good form during the training camp and that was the criteria for their selection,” Harender told PTI.

Harender also brushed aside criticism that selecting senior players was unfair on youngsters, saying the younger lot was getting its share of exposure at the junior level. “It’s not that we don’t have youngsters in the team. Gurbaaz Singh and Vikas Pillay are some of the young guys that we have. Of the 48 who participated in the training camp, 18 were selected. It would have been unfair not to give the seniors a chance considering they were specially called for the camp,” he said.

The Indian hockey team leaves for Argentina on Tuesday night and is scheduled to play a Test series. After coming back, India will take part in the Gold Cup Tournament also featuring England,Germany, Holland.