Narinder Batra quits from IOA to protest posts to Kalmadi, Chautala
FIH President Narinder Batra resigned from IOA to protest the scam-tainted duo of Kalmadi and Chautala being named as life presidents.
Back in the national camp after a four-week break since the 2016 Rio Olympics, the Indian men&’s hockey team is upbeat and have now shifted focus to the new season which starts with the Asian Champions Trophy on October 20 in Malaysia where they will meet arch rivals Pakistan too.
"The mood in the team is very good and the players have moved on from their quarterfinal loss against Belgium," Chief coach Roelant Oltmans said.
"They don’t have bitter feelings about the Olympics because now they know they are at par with top teams in the world and they are often complimented by hockey lovers not just from India but around the globe," he added.
Advertisement
The selection trials to pick the team for the Asian Champions Trophy and Australia tour will be held on Friday at the Sports Authority of India (SAI), South Centre in Bengaluru.
The team will also be put through a rigorous fitness test.
“The senior team have a busy schedule with the Asian Champions Trophy and Australia tour then the Hockey India League," Roelant said.
"The juniors will play in the Australian Hockey League, Spain 4-Nations Tournament and then the Uttar Pradesh FIH Junior Men World Cup in Lucknow in December.
"It&’s only in March that we will look at having a strong pool of probables which will have quite a few junior players who can be potential players for the 2020 Olympics and even the World Cup in 2018," he added.
Advertisement
