Australians unwilling to risk playing in Jammu

According to sources in the J&K Hockey Association, the IHF had made all out efforts to convince the Australian Hockey Federation that there was no threat to its team. It is even said to have forwarded a report by different security agencies clearing the venue for any international match. The recent recovery of a large amount of explosives, including bombs, from two Kashmiri militants from near the stadium, just a couple of hours before the final of the Indira Hockey Gold Cup was to begin, was the main reason cited by the Australians before cancelling the match, sources disclosed.

A senior police officer, when contacted for his comment by this paper, however, termed as “unfounded” the fears of the Australians. He said there is no security threat to the players.

The astroturf came as a boon for the state players since its inauguration on November 19 last. The first users of the turf was the Indian hockey team which held a fortnight-long coaching camp here before leaving for the four-nation cup in Spain. The belief here is that the state players benefitted by watching the Indian team practice.

Later, the All India Indira Gold Cup hockey tournament was played on the ground in which many top teams of the country, besides local outfits, participated. The occasion provided a great chance to the state players, who often complained that they got little or no exposure to improve the standard of their game by playing with the teams like Indian Air Force, Punjab Police, Punjab and Sind Bank. Thereafter came the Sukhbir Memorial meet for local teams.

“The more the players practice on the astroturf, the more will they improve their game,” said Association general secretary Jagjit Singh.

He told The Indian Express Indian team coach CR Kumar, during the camp here, had predicted that the J&K hockey team will be among the top four in the next National Hockey Championship. Kumar is reported to have said the state players were fortunate to be able to practice and play on the astroturf which is of international standards.

Indian Hockey Federation chief KPS Gill has already announced that many national-level tournaments will be scheduled in this venue.