Warm-up before heat rises

“We are looking at a successful tour,” coach Kaushik said. “While Australia and Germany are world leaders,we have been practicing constantly since March,both at home and abroad. The players have improved a lot and we are expecting a better assessment of the team on this tour.”

Captain Surinder Kaur agreed: “The training is going good. We have many important assignments coming up and I am sure the youngsters will get better with experience.”

Off the field,though,there have been more issues to grapple with. While key striker Mamta Kharab is out following a knee surgery and is not expected to be ready before Commonwealth Games,the administrative mess in the game has also affected the team,though the players refuse to say as much. Sources in the team management said,“All the uncertainty flying around has made the girls concerned. They don’t know whom to approach,as no one knows who runs the sport.”

New physio checks in
A new physiotherapist has meanwhile joined the team in the ongoing camp. While physio Vikas Dhawan had been associated with the team for over six years and was respected in hockey circles,he had to quit due to monetary reasons. “What he was being paid here was not enough to sustain his family,” the coach said. “He offered to stick with the team till December,but his new employers wanted him to join immediately.”

Ankita Tondon,who replaces Dhawan,has no prior experience in handling sports teams but Kaushik said he agreed to the appointment given the time constraints. “She was one of the applicants. The ministry and the Sports Authority of India appointed her and we know how things work here,” Kaushik said. “All the experienced physios are already employed and we don’t have much time to look for another. But we will see how things go with her and then take a long-term decision.”

Skipper Surinder Kaur said,“Vikas sir’s absence is of course felt but she (Tondon) has been with us only for a few days. Hopefully,we will be able to give a better judgment after this tour.”