Camp venue undecided

Bangalore, Oct 2, 2012:
The Indian national hockey team probables’ camp is tentatively scheduled to kick off in a fortnight but, strangely, Hockey India is yet to find a venue for it.

After ditching the Sports Authority of India,?South Centre, Bangalore early this year due to the poor quality of the turf, the campers found life difficult in Pune’s Balewadi Sports Complex as it is not a full-fledged SAI centre.

With very few options left, Hockey India chose to have the camp at Patiala but it seems to have hit a roadblock there too. “Just last night, I received a call from Patiala and they said they can’t host the men’s camp,” HI secretary-general Narinder Batra told reporters while witnessing the final day’s action of the Senior National championship.

“Patiala said they can only host the women campers. I need to get back to New Delhi and discuss the issue with the concerned people. Bangalore is not an option due to the turf conditions. If nothing works out, Pune might be the last resort.”

Notable absentees at the ongoing Nationals are India coach Michael Nobbs and exercise physiologist David John. When queried on their absence, Batra said thier files have been stuck with the Sports Ministry. “We at HI have approved their contract extensions. I believe SAI too has approved them but the files have been lying with the Sports Ministry for a while now. Once the Ministry clears his papers, the visas can be processed and they will be here.”

Batra also hinted at having a two-tier Nationals from next year to eliminate the embarrassingly lop-sided pool encounters. “We are looking at having a seeding system in place. The top 12 seeds will get a direct entry into the second phase while the others will battle it out in the first phase of which four will gain promotion. Both the phases will be held in one shot.”

Batra revealed that 11 out of the 16 players who took part in the London Olympics have sent their individual reports on the disastrous showing and a hearing will be held soon. Following the debacle where India failed to win a single and finished last, HI had asked the management staff and players to send their assesment report for the poor showing.
Meanwhile, until Nobbs’ arrival, the camp will be conducted by Mohd Riaz and Clarence Lobo.