The National hockey camp recommenced at the Sports Authority of India here on Monday but a significant portion of this second phase, including the selection trials, is expected to be conducted on the premises of the Madras Engineering Group (MEG).
“We can't afford injuries with so many tournaments lined up,” said chief assistant coach S.S. Grewal, alluding to the unfavourable condition of the playing surface at SAI. The campers had, during the first phase that ended on July 31, trained at MEG on a couple of occasions.
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The trials themselves are expected to take place on August 13 and 14, with selectors in attendance.
The squad that will travel to China for the Asian Champions Trophy (September 3 to 12) will then be chosen. As of Monday, 46 of the camp's 48 players had arrived. Prabhjot Singh was expected to reach later while Shivendra Singh, it emerged, was injured. Coach Michael Nobbs was due to fly in by Tuesday.
Players underwent speed-endurance tests on Monday morning, with practice games played in the evening.
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“The same schedule (as of the first phase) will continue; only the intensity will go up,” Grewal said. With the camp reaching an important stage, greater emphasis would be laid on skill-training, he added.
Meanwhile, four of the five players who had, during the first phase, been temporarily suspended from the camp for leaving without permission (to attend a WSH event), attended training but their status remains unclear; a meeting with Hockey India Disciplinary Panel head Pargat Singh is yet to take place.
The second phase of the camp will conclude on August 28, when the team will leave for China.