Indian hockey captain Tushar Khandekar says the team has overcome the turmoil of losing three players to suspension after an ugly showdown with their Pakistani counterparts during a match here but conceded that it would be difficult to fill the vacant slots.
Gurbaj Singh, Gurwinder Singh Chandi and Tushar himself were suspended for one to five matches besides the team's assistant coach Jugraj Singh and manager David John.
“As a hockey player, I feel this should not have happened. We are ambassadors of the game and our duty is to improve the profile of the game.
“I regret this happened at the closing moments of the last match.
“But we cannot live on the past, we have got to overcome it and in fact we have overcome it,” he said.
Tushar was suspended as he is the captain of the side even though he was sitting on the bench when the incident occurred.
“I was actually not playing in the last five minutes when the incident happened. I was substituted by the coach.
“Probably, the rule holds that the captain is responsible for everything that happens on the field and expected him to have prevented such things, so be it,” he said.
Asked whether the absence of key players such as Gurbaj and Gurwinder Chandi for the remaining matches would affect the team's morale, Tushar felt the team has enough resources to do well.
“We are here with 22 players. The coach would decide whom to replace and how to do that.
“What I can say is that both the players suspended are experienced, certainly difficult to fill them exactly.
“But, at the same time, it gives opportunity for others,” he said.
