Surprise non-inclusion of experienced goalkeeper Helen Mary and veteran Midfielder Sanggai Ihembal Chanu in the Asian Games probables smack of suspicion in the women hockey affairs. Compared to men’s hockey, women are known for nurturing, protecting and preserving meagre talent at their disposal. However, this view comes in for a review with the omission of two stalwarts, whose performance in the Madrid WOrld Cup, was not at all bad.

Though it could not be ascetained whether these players opted out or not invited for the camp, their mere absence suggest that they were directly or indirectly made scapegoats for the Madird world cup performance.

Though knowledgeables agree that the Indians performance at Madrid was not at all bad, it is gathered that women hockey’s management holds a rather opposite view. They seem to feel that with a bit more cautious game coming from seniors such as Mary and Sanggai, India could have done well.

This writer was at Madrid and of the firm conviction that Helen Mary and Sanggai did their best in the given circumstances. Sanggai was played as a left half in the absence of former captain Sumrai Tete, who missed the world cup due to injury. She certainly filled in the vacuum well despite the fact that she used to be an inside forward in most of her playing career.

As regards Helen, it is suffice to state that when she was substituted in the match against South Korea, her replacement goalkeeper conceded three goals within ten minutes of substitution! Helen, in her late 20s, might not be an ideal choice for chief coach Kaushik, but has he found a better choice than her? This is a question he has to anwer now. If not, is it prudent to try a new one at this juncture when the Asian Games is hardly a month’s time away?

The 22 Probables: GOAL KEEPERs

1 Deepika Murthy,
2 Jasdeep Kaur,
3 Poonam Toppo,
4 Marita Tirkey.
FULLBACKs:

5 Suman Bala,
6 Binita Toppo,
7 Pushpa Pradhan.

HALFBACKS:

8 Rajwinder Kaur,
9 Asunta Lakra,
10 Joydeep Kaur,
11 Gagandeep Kaur,
12 Rosalind Ralte,
13 Subhadra Pradhan.

FORWARDS:

14 Surinder Kaur,
15 Jasjeet Kaur,
16 Deepika,
17 Mamta Kharab,
18 Ritu Rani,
19 Saba Anjum,
20 Jyoti Sunita Kullu,
21 Binita Xess,
22 Th. Ranjita Devi.