Eye contact and coordination with the yellow ball was somewhat difficult on the blue astroturf at the Visa International invitational four-nation tournament played at the Olympic Park in London, said India's drag-flick specialist Sandeep Singh at a brand endorsement promotional event here on Thursday.
Hockey stars Sandeep Singh, Sardar Singh, Shivendra Singh and S.V. Sunil have signed a two-year brand endorsement contract with Mansion House. It's learnt that the deal for all four players is around Rs. one crore.
“We have been supporting seven swimmers and Chennai Super Kings. We want to recognise promise and hence we have made the four hockey players brand ambassadors,'' said Tilaknagar Industries Deputy Manager Laxmi Narasimhan.
Sandeep said Germany, Australia and Great Britain had been practising on the blue surface for nearly six months.
“It's bumpy, slow and makes ball control difficult. We are all used to the green astroturf and hence the eyes will take some time to get used to the new colour,'' said Sandeep.
Azlan Shah Cup
The Indian team is set to play the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup at Ipoh on blue turf from May 24 to June 3.
India will tour Europe and play six Tests against Spain and two against France before the Olympics; all matches are to be played on blue turf.
“We would have played 20 FIH approved matches on blue turf and a few more practice matches before the Olympics,'' said Sandeep.
The players thanked Mansion House for supporting hockey.
