Manpreet and SV Sunil will not play tomorrow against Germany
India will play Germany in their last league match of the Champions Trophy on Tuesday and it will be an important match, but only because of the opposition. With the FIH making the competition an eight-team round-robin event, the wins in the group stage are only good enough to determine the quarterfinal stage line-up, and that will be the more crucial stage.
But India can already claim to walk with their heads high in the competition. Not only have they comprehensively beaten England and New Zealand – who finished fourth and ninth at the Olympics – they did so with a lot of hurdles.
India lost their experienced goalkeeper PR Sreejesh in the classification match of the Lanco Super Series against Pakistan. Sreejesh, in fact, is on his way back to India while youngster Sushant Tirkey was rushed as a replacement for the competition as late as November 30. Hockey India had to seek FIH permission for the same, arrange the travel documents for Tirkey and rush him to Australia with absolutely no preparation. As such, PT Rao, the second goalkeeper, has been doing India duty in the first two matches, and for someone making his senior debut, has done a commendable job.
Add to that the fact that David John, the exercise physiologist with the Indian team, quit abruptly, seeking a raise. John has been credited with India’s vastly-improved fitness and all the players respected hi and his work with the team. In his absence, with a new trainer in place for les than a month, the Indian team has done very well to not only stay on their feet for two tough back-to-back games but also keep the intensity for the entire period.
Against Germany, India will have more problems. Manpreet Singh has got 10 stitches under his ear and is on painkillers, but insists he will play tomorrow. SV Sunil has pulled his hamstring and is doubtful for the match. Sardar Singh, the most important player in the side, has a stiff shoulder. The team management is considering resting all three, given the fact that a win or loss in this game will not make much difference, but the fact that all three have insisted that they would, if allowed, step out on the field on the morrow, is heartening. It is now almost certain Sardar Singh has got go ahead from doctors.
Hopefully, this spirit will translate into something more tangible this time around. The Champions Trophy, by the way, is the only competition where India have never managed to reach the final, ever, and won a single bronze medal.