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Gill shows change of heart

"The accent will be totally on juniors for the revival of hockey in the country,'' asserted Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) president K. P. S. Gill.

Addressing media persons at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex at Balewadi, Pune, Gill said 75 juniors players (under-21) were selected after the Bangalore junior nationals and are being put through their paces at Bangalore and Pune. "This was being done keeping an eye on the Junior World Cup to be held in Tasmania, Australia, in 2001, the 2002 World Cup and the 2004 Olympics," he said.

Gill was in Pune to watch the junior probables in action. He said the IHF has chalked up a long-term plan, whereby over 5,000 players in all age groups will be playing the game, which would result in a wide base being created.

When his attention was drawn to the 'Super Six' -- Dhanraj Pillay, Mukesh Kumar, Sabu Varker, A Subbaiah, Ashish Balal and Sandeep Somesh, who were dropped from the Indian team after the Asian Games, the IHF chief said his federation has an open mind, with out any bias towards any one. However, he hastened to add that the players should be physically fit.

"Mukesh was included in the selected probables, but opted out. But now since he has given an apology the matter has ended. He along with Dhanraj and Varkey are in good form and if they continue to be in perfect physical shape they could regain their places in the national team for the Sydney Olympics," he added.

Gill disclosed that about 40 probables will be selected before finalising "a perfectly fit squad" for the Olympics. They will then be put through a month-long, rigorous camp. The Indian team will be in Sydney at least a week before the competition, to get acclaimatised to the artificial surface as well as the prevailing conditions.

He said the IHF has entered an 18-member under-18 team for the Bombay Gold Cup, commencing tomorrow at the Mahindra stadium of the Bombay Hockey Association.

Benny Boodle, secretary, Maharashtra Hockey Association (MHA) has been named the manager of the team while Ajay Bansal and Clarence Lobo are the coaches, he added.

Both Bansal of SAI and Lobo of Tatas had been training the 49 probables at 21-day coaching-cum-conditioning camp at Pune which concluded today.

UNI