Times of India: Champions Trophy will test India’s potential ahead of Rio Games: Sardar Singh

Bengaluru, May.3 (ANI): The Indian men’s hockey team captain Sardar Singh believes that next month’s Champions Trophy will be one of the key tournaments to evaluate the team’s preparations for the upcoming Rio Olympics.

“Doing well against each of these teams is important for us as it will show where we stand in the lead-up to the Olympics. It will give us an opportunity to test the latest weapons (tactics) we have been working on in the camp,” said Singh, here in Bengaluru at the SAI, South Centre, a day after the selection trials were held to pick the squad for London.

Though Singh feels that the team could have done better against Australia in both league match and finals match at the recently-concluded Sultan Azlan Shah tournament, and the Champions Trophy will help them access where they stand.
“We had many chances where we could have converted into goals against Australia and we didn’t. The Champions Trophy will give us an opportunity to correct those mistakes and assess where we need to further improve for the big Games,” he said.

The event which will start on June 10 at the Lee Valley Olympic venue in London will see India lock horns with world champions Australia, defending Olympic Gold medallists Germany, Great Britain, Belgium and South Korea. (ANI)