Sardar Singh accidentally hurts himself

It was not his intention, but it did happen. It hurt his feelings first, and then physically his right knee.

Because of that, Indian captain Sardar Singh was all along out of place in his press conference, attended together with Santi Freixa and Spain coach Indurain, besides Indian coach Terry Walsh.

India got a penalty corner in the crucial juncture of the game, only third in the match. Usually precise Sardar could not inject the ball in the set piece drill, disappointing many.

So disappointed was he that swung his stick badly, hoping it will hit his shin guard, but went a bit above and this is how he got big swelling just below knee.

He did not take chair in the press meet, but was bending and nursing his wound, and was frank enough to admit the reasons thereof.

However, coach Terry Walsh did not blame Sardar Singh for the faulty injection. He felt the ground was slower, and the wind was blowing strong, and even turf became dry.

“The second pitch is slower. Much slower compared to fast turf of the main stadium, where we played last two matches. You may have even seen him pouring water on the spot before pushing”, he reasoned.

Incidentally, Sardar Singh’s father was here to witness Indian match.

The pain of players during and after the match there to see.

At half time, PR Sreejesh, who had another gem of a game today, fell flat on the sidelines, eve leading to swelling but concerned onlookers.

After the match, when defender VR Raghunath was called for a discussion by a media person in the mixed zone, he told he has problem. “Lot of gas problem” he said holding his hands between chest and abdomen.