Hockey team takes break, to play charity matches

CHANDIGARH: After weeks of being mired in controversy, India’s hockey players will take a leisurely break in the Chandigarh to play four charity matches against Bollywood and TV stars on Saturday.

The event is being organised at the Sector 42 hockey stadium. The proceeds from the 15-minute-a-side ‘All Stars’ exhibition games will be handed over to the players. But there’s a catch.

The initiative is praiseworthy, given all the negative reasons for which hockey has been in the news recently, but the timing of the event raises a few questions. Is it pragmatic for the players to turn out for charity matches with the World Cup just eight days away? Though the matches are not expected to be intense affairs, what if there is a freak injury?

Expectedly, the timing of this event hasn’t gone down too well with former players. “The entire concept defies logic,” said three-time Olympic gold medalist Balbir Singh Sr.

Former national player and India coach Sukhvir Grewal remarked, “Chances of players picking up injuries is slim, as they will play exhibition games with full precaution. But what worries me is that the event will surely affect the concentration level of the players with the World Cup just a week away. When the team gets a break at this stage, the players should focus more on the forthcoming event rather than travel to play charity matches.”

When contacted, Hockey India secretary Narendra Batra tried to steer clear of any controversy. “The players have two days off and it all depends on the chief coach (read Jose Brasa) to decide whether they should go and play any charity match. Hockey India doesn’t interfere in such matters. Also, playing exhibition matches ahead of World Cup will stimulate the players. As far as injuries are concerned, players can pick up injuries even while playing practice games,” he said.

Team coach Harendra Singh too seemed reluctant to comment: “I am nobody to comment on this subject as I didn’t take the decision. You should ask HI officials and coach Brasa,” he said. All effort to contact Brasa proved futile.

India skipper Rajpal Singh, when asked to comment, said, “Since there’s a two-day break, we decided to play the charity matches. We know that the World Cup’s just round the corner. We will take precautions,” he said.