Special Correspondent

PUNE: The back injury to captain and drag flicker Sandeep Singh is only one of numerous problems the Indian men’s hockey squad has to overcome in the run-up to the Champions Challenge Tournament at Salta (Argentina) from December 6.

New Zealand, China and Belgium figure in India’s group, Pakistan, Argentina, Canada and South Africa are other teams in fray. The champion team qualifies for the Champions Trophy.

Rajpal Singh will be leading the National squad for the first time, with chief coach Jose Brasa certain about Sandeep’s non-availability for the Champions Challenge.

“Sandeep is unable to get up from bed without support and has been advised at least 10 days rest by doctors. Rajpal was chosen among other captaincy options with Deepak Thakur, Arjun Halappa tried out during the Canada tour,” said the Spain-based chief coach.

“We are going to the Champions Challenge firm in our desire to win the event,” said Brasa, after a training session at Balewadi sports complex.

The delay in confirming sports psychologist Eneko Larumbe’s appointment by the Sports Ministry and time lag in availability of training tools like heart rate monitoring equipment, GPS, laptops and software were critical points raised by the Indian head coach.

Brasa said psychologist Larumbe is in Spain waiting for the second call from Indian authorities confirming his appointment.

“At a meeting with the steering committee on September 16 with Sports Ministry and Sports Authority of India officials, my request for a sports psychologist was okayed. I identified Larumbe because his line of working with players individually is in sync with my thinking. He is still waiting for the call.”

The training tools were expected to reach the team management after the Canada tour, but Brasa and support staff, including trainer David Peres, are still waiting for official decisions to be implemented.