The Indian midfielder Manpreet Singh flew back home from the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup on Wednesday after the death of his father. “We heard about it four hours before the game. It is very sad news and Manpreet is on his way to Kuala Lumpur now and will be on a night flight to India,” said the head coach Roelant Oltmans after India defeated Japan in the tournament-opener.
“We will miss him but his family situation is far more important at the moment. He is a real winner and a very good boy and the best thing we could have done today was to win this game for him.”
Oltmans revealed that India was not allowed to fly in a replacement.
“We are not allowed to bring in a replacement,” he said. “I asked the FIH and they said no replacement was allowed after the team managers’ meeting; and that took place yesterday. There is a small chance that he (Manpreet) could be back later next week but all that is secondary.”
