The Hindu : Sport / Hockey : Indian team well prepared, says Joaquim Carvalho

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 24, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Sport

Sport - Hockey

Indian team well prepared, says Joaquim Carvalho

Hockey Correspondent

Predicts interesting matches against Belgium

— Photo: S.R. Raghunathan

WORD OF ADVICE: Indian hockey coach Joaquim Carvalho offers some tips to the players ahead of the Test series against Belgium at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium on Wednesday.

Chennai: Exuding confidence and satisfaction, Indian coach Joquim Carvalho asserted that the National team is well prepared for over a year now, and predicted an interesting set of matches against Belgium in the five-Test series starting on Friday.

“We had three good tournaments last year, and we are well prepared. I am positive that the Tests will be beneficial for us,” Carvalho said after a workout with the team at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium on Wednesday. The Indian team consists of 24 players, who will be shuffled for the five Tests.

But Carvalho indicated the squad that won the Asia Cup will constitute the nucleus in all the matches.

He pointed out that the emphasis would not be on the outcome but on testing the players under match conditions.

Carvalho said the series would give the boys a chance to prepare for the forthcoming tour of Australia. The Indian team is scheduled to play a few matches in Western Australia from February 1 to 12.

The fixtures include a tie against the Chinese team, which is also training at Perth.

There will be a short break on return before the team leaves for the Olympic qualifier in Santiago from March 1 to 9.

Drag flicker Sandeep Singh is out because of indisposition, and is unlikely to be chosen for the Olympic qualifier also.

Carvalho referred to the excellent performances of the drag flicker Divakar Ram, who is currently playing with the Indian under-21 team in the eight-nation tournament at Kuala Lumpur. Ram may figure in the last two Tests here.

Ric Charlesworth, Technical Director of the National teams, is also in the city and will be part of the Indian contingent during the five Test series.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport