New-look team to be named soon
A new-look Indian hockey team, under chief coach Michael Nobbs, will be named most likely by Tuesday for the Asian Champions Trophy to be held in Ordos, China, from September 3 to 12.
As many as 45 probables were put to the test during the two-day trials that concluded at the SAI South Centre here on Sunday, with selectors Col. Balbir Singh, B.P. Govinda, Harbinder Singh, A.B. Subbaiah and government observer Dilip Tirkey watching the players over four sessions.
A team of 18 for the sixnation tournament and around 12 players who will be a part of the core probables for the next year will be named by Hockey India. On the trials Col. Balbir said, “There has been a marked improvement from the previous trials. Defence and attack was good during the trials. The best part of the trials was the drag-flicks.“ One aspect of the trials that left Balbir disappointed was goalkeeping, especially on the second day that saw Bharat Chetri come up with a sloppy show.
“I was not happy with goal keeping. But they are good goalkeepers and I guess it was an off-colour day for them,“ he said.
After a day’s break, the players will resume practice on Tuesday.