Sandeep eyeing return to national team through HIL
8 Jan 2013 2:15 AM GMT
Once the blue-eyed boy of Indian hockey, Sandeep Singh of late is struggling to earn his place back in the national team, but the ace drag-flicker knows a strong performance in the upcoming Hockey India League can put his beleaguered career back on track.
Sandeep hogged the limelight in last year’s Olympic qualifiers riding on his impressive penalty corner conversion rate. But he turned into a dud in the events thereafter, including India’s disastrous London Olympics campaign, which finally led to his ouster from the national team. Sandeep is desperate to make the HIL count.
‘I am out of the team for quite sometime now and it pains. My main focus would be to make a comeback in the national team through the HIL and for that I will have to come up with impressive performances,’ Sandeep said.
‘I will give my heart and soul in the HIL to make the selectors take notice of me,’ said the penalty corner specialist, who will turn out for Mumbai Magicians in the inaugural franchise-based event.
For Sandeep, the HIL not only marks the new beginning for Indian hockey but also for the players, who got the financial impetus.
‘HIL is a boon for Indian hockey. A competitive HIL can do wonders for India hockey. The tournament will promote young talents and give them the opportunity to play alongside and against some of the best in the business to cheer things up.’
PHF CITES INDO-PAK HOCKEY TO BE SUCCESSFUL
Buoyed by the success of the recently-concluded India-Pakistan bilateral cricket series, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) and players are confident that the upcoming hockey series between the traditional arch-rivals will be a huge hit. India and Pakistan will resume bilateral hockey ties after seven years in March-April this year. in May for another five-Test series.’After the tremendous success of the cricket series, we are confident that the upcoming hockey series will be equally or even more successful.’
Sandeep hogged the limelight in last year’s Olympic qualifiers riding on his impressive penalty corner conversion rate. But he turned into a dud in the events thereafter, including India’s disastrous London Olympics campaign, which finally led to his ouster from the national team. Sandeep is desperate to make the HIL count.
‘I am out of the team for quite sometime now and it pains. My main focus would be to make a comeback in the national team through the HIL and for that I will have to come up with impressive performances,’ Sandeep said.
‘I will give my heart and soul in the HIL to make the selectors take notice of me,’ said the penalty corner specialist, who will turn out for Mumbai Magicians in the inaugural franchise-based event.
For Sandeep, the HIL not only marks the new beginning for Indian hockey but also for the players, who got the financial impetus.
‘HIL is a boon for Indian hockey. A competitive HIL can do wonders for India hockey. The tournament will promote young talents and give them the opportunity to play alongside and against some of the best in the business to cheer things up.’
PHF CITES INDO-PAK HOCKEY TO BE SUCCESSFUL
Buoyed by the success of the recently-concluded India-Pakistan bilateral cricket series, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) and players are confident that the upcoming hockey series between the traditional arch-rivals will be a huge hit. India and Pakistan will resume bilateral hockey ties after seven years in March-April this year. in May for another five-Test series.’After the tremendous success of the cricket series, we are confident that the upcoming hockey series will be equally or even more successful.’
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