Indian hockey squad get cracking

The team, however, had little time to either admire the Dutch countryside or the rustic setting of the Hockey Village, as the resort is being called. 8220;There were many things to organise, like food, transport, training schedule, etc., that nothing else has been on my mind,8221; said coach Vasudevan Baskaran as he brought the squad into the main stadium, here on Monday morning.

The Indian players were the first of theparticipants to be allowed practice on to the main pitch which is located in a converted football stadium, belonging to the FC Utrecht club. Baskaran was all business and the boys were put through their paces for nearly 80 minutes before other teams trooped in for their practice sessions. With three players, skipper Dhanraj Pillay, half-back Baljit Singh Saini and centre-forward Rajiv Mishra, carrying injuries, but selected, nevertheless, there has been some uncertainty over 16 who will finally make the World Cup squad.

Also, the Indian Hockey Federation has sent 18 players, taking advantage of the rule which permits the teams to list their 16 at the Managers8217; meeting held 24 hours before the commencement of the Championship. Mishra, for one, can be definitely ruled out of the final squad as it was very apparent that he had anything but fully recovered from a knee injury. He limped right through the training session and it was a wonder that he was chosen at all. The selectorial axe is also likely to fall onhalf-back Sukhbir Singh Gill who will have to make way for Saini, who was expected to join the team on Tuesday morning, having 8220;fully recovered8221; from a facial injury that he suffered during the recent tour of Australia. Team doctor S A Cruz said Pillay was almost fully fit, as testified by the player himself.

When queried about Mishra, Cruz replied: 8221;He was fastest over 30 metres sprint during tests in Patiala.8221; But the fact remains that he was noticeably slow over the first few metres when sprinting from a statationary position. The doctor agreed that the initial first steps usually are crucial in a game situation. Meanwhile, it was learnt that the women8217;s team, having come through the qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe, had a harrowing journey to Utrecht. The girls, it was said, were stuck in the Frankfurt airport for 8220;nearly nine hours8221; due to aircraft problems. That apart, little else could be gleaned about the side at short notice.

The World Cup fever was very much discernible in Amsterdam andUtrecht, but the talk was all about France 98 football and not the hockey version which is scheduled to get underway on Wednesday. A few hoardings dot this city of canals, restaurants and bars, but few really seemed to be aware that as many as 24 teams have arrived here for the men8217;s and women8217;s World Cup, which, for the first time, is being held concurrently. The weather conditions are near perfect for hockey with the temparature in the low 20s and the city basking in summer sunshine. It is to be hoped that Utrecht will witness an Indian summer in more ways than one.