Halappa ruled out, trials begin today

MANUJA VEERAPPA

The Indian hockey team will have a new skipper on Sunday. With current captain Arjun Halappa being ruled out of the two-day selection trials at the SAI South Centre to pick the team for the Asian Champions Trophy, the focus shifts to the new skipper and the team that will do duty at Ordos, China, next month.

Halappa, who has been nursing a groin injury for the past few months, has not taken to the field since the initial part of the camp last month.

The 30-year-old, who is currently undergoing rehabilitation at the camp said, “It’s disappointing that I cannot be part of the trials. But I have been told that I’ll take another three weeks to recover and about six weeks to regain full fitness.“ Another prominent player among the doubtful starters is Tushar Khandker who has been carrying an ankle injury. Vickram Kanth, down with a viral fever since the beginning of the week, may not take to the field on Saturday. Another significant factor will be the inclusion or non-selection of the ‘rebel’ players who were not included in the Hockey India list for the camp.

While Halappa has been ruled out with fitness and lack of training being the reason along with Prabhjot Singh, it will be interesting the see how things turn out for the in-form Sardara Singh, Sandeep Singh and goalkeeper Adrian D’Souza.

Much will depend on the fitness report by exercise physiologist David John. The Aussie, who was expected to arrive in time for the selections, will now be here only on Tuesday. But the selections will be done in consultation with him.

“I will have to consult him over phone as his counsel his vital before we decide on who can be selected for the Asian Champions Trophy,” said chief coach Michael Nobbs.