Ramandeep, Bhaskaran axed; Cedric returns

India's below par performance in the Sydney Olympic Games took its toll on Wednesday with the Indian Hockey Federation deciding to sack captain Ramandeep Singh and coach Vasudevan Bhaskaran.

The IHF announced 43 probables for a coaching camp, starting in Patiala on January 5, in preparation for the World Cup qualifiers in Scotland in July, with Cedric D'Souza making a comeback as national coach and a captain yet to be named.

Ramandeep and his Olympic half-back Mohd Riaz were conspicuous by their absence in the probables' list.

"We thought their careers were over in the Olympics," IHF president K P S Gill told reporters about their exclusion.

"Moreover, they did not even participate in the National hockey tournament (which concluded in Jammu on December 16)," he said.

Mukesh Kumar, who announced his retirement from international hockey immediately after the Olympic campaign, has also not been selected.

The rest of the Olympic squad, including mercurial striker Dhanraj Pillay, has been retained and seven junior players included in the probable list.

Gill said D'Souza has agreed to take over again as coach and his tenure and other details will be worked out shortly.

Former goalkeeper Ashish Balal has been named assistant coach along with C R Kumar and asked to train the five goalkeepers named for the camp.

Asked why he went back on his assurance after the Sydney Games that the coach would not be changed, Gill said, "Yes, we have been inconsistent. But it happened. We needed a change."

A psychologist, Dr J P S Sidhu, has also been appointed.

"Dr Sidhu is the secretary of the Chandigarh Women's Hockey Federation and has done a course in sports medicine and sports psychology," Gill said.

"Engaging a foreign pyschologist would have been a very expensive affair. So we have to make do with the best available talent within the country," he said.

The IHF is also looking for a physical trainer for the national team, he said.

Gill said the new format for the national championship this year had proved very successful and would be continued with.

He also announced the laying of a new astro turf at Jammu and at the National Stadium in Delhi to enable the two centres to host major international tournaments.

For major tournaments like the World Cup and Champions Trophy, a centre is required to have at least two grounds within walking distance of each other with at least one of them having floodlight facilities, he said.

There are a series of international tournaments lined up for the team next year, starting with Germany's tour of India in February-March.

Germany will play three matches with India at Bombay (February 26), Hyderabad (February 28) and Chennai (March 3), Gill said.