Amidst glitz and glamour, IHF search for talent

The organisers have promised a virtual adrenaline-rushing feast at the second Premier Hockey League (PHL) — even glitzier than the inau...

The organisers have promised a virtual adrenaline-rushing feast at the second Premier Hockey League (PHL) — even glitzier than the inaugural edition at Hyderabad. PHL II, which starts January 5 would be a litmus test for the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), keeping in view the packed international calendar ahead, including the World Cup, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.

Indian hockey will do better to forget 2005 and begin afresh this year. And PHL could offer IHF selectors, experts and coaches to study the players from up-close. Performance of players like Rajpal Singh, who played for Chandigarh Dynamos (winners of Tier II), Inderjit Singh Chadha, who represented Hyderabad Sultans (winners of Tier I), Jaswinder Singh (Chandigarh Dynamos) in the last PHL, earned them a call in the national camps.

The trio played in the Azlan Shah tournament while Rajpal and Jaswinder donned the nationals for the Rabobank Mini World Cup. Rajpal was also a member of the Indian team in the Champions Trophy.

Story continues below this ad

Rajinder Singh (Jr), the Indian hockey coach, wants to utilize this tournament for talent scouting. “We would be watching PHL closely. I think the format of PHL will enable us to gauge upcoming players closely. We would pick at least 45-50 players and invite them to the national camps,” he says.

I think the format of PHL will enable us to gauge upcoming players closely. We would pick at least 45-50 players and invite them to the national camps
—Rajinder Singh (Jr) Indian hockey coach

Speaking to The Indian Express from Chennai, IHF secretary K. Jothikumaran insisted that the federation is taking this tournament with all seriousness and have already deployed selectors to watch particular games. “Yes, we didn’t do well last year. But we hope to pick the right talent this time. To begin with our selectors would be deployed at PHL.”

Olympian Harmik Singh, who is now an adviser with IHF, was of the view that PHL should be able to throw some light at the domestic talent vis-…-vis the foreigners. “Our boys will be pitted against some top foreign players in PHL. It would tell us where we stand. But honestly speaking we have a long way to go,” said Harmik, who was manager of the Indian team during Champions Trophy.

Hamas under pressure to respond to Gaza peace plan as Trump says will give ‘three or four days’

Trump gives Hamas 3-4 days to accept Gaza peace plan, with a warning

11 hr ago

US President Donald Trump has given a tight deadline to Hamas for accepting his Gaza peace plan, warning of a “sad end” if if they refuse to accept the conditions. Palestinian militant group Hamas is yet undecided on whether to accept the peace deal proposed by US President Donald Trump on Monday.

View all shorts

Live Blog

PHOTOS