Hockey team awaiting Gill's approval

The Indian team for the three-nation hockey tournament in Australia, beginning on May 28, is likely to be announced on May 20-21.

According to Indian Hockey Federation secretary general K Jothikumaran the team is almost finalised but is awaiting the approval of IHF president K P S Gill.

"We have more or less finalised the team of 20 members," Jothikumaran said over phone from Chennai.

He was, however, unwilling to release the list of those selected, saying Gill will make the announcement.

The team was chosen from 31 probables, who are training at a camp in Bangalore, on the recommendations of the coaches -- chief coach Rajinder Singh, assistant coach Baldev Singh, goalkeepers' coach A B Subbaiah and junior team coach Harendra Singh -- and a three-man selection committee, comprising Karnataka State Hockey Association secretary K Krishnamurthy, KSHA selection panel chairman R K Shetty and former Karnataka coach Ramesh Parameshwaran.

Jothikumaran said the camp will continue till May 24, on the evening of which the team will leave for Australia, where they will take part in the double-leg invitational tournament at Perth and Sydney, between May 28 to June 8.

Besides India, Pakistan, Australia and Australia 'A' are the other teams in the tournament.

Rajinder Singh said the larger game plan of the ongoing camp is to prepare and build a team for the Champions Trophy in August and Olympics next year.

"The camp has focused its attention on short-corner conversions, defending, goalkeeping, hit-and-run and improving conversion rate of field goals," he said, adding, the team will play the Asian style of attacking hockey.

Jothikumaran said the IHF is looking for corporate patronage for the team and trying to evolve a blueprint for a national hockey league.

May 28: Australia v India; Australia A v Pakistan

May 29: Pakistan v Australia; India v Australia A

May 31: India v Pakistan; Australia A v Australia

June 1: Play off - 3 v Australia A; Final: 1-2.

June 4: Australia v India; Australia A v Pakistan

June 5: Pakistan v Australia; India v Australia A

June 7: India v Pakistan; Australia A v Australia

June 8: Play off v Australia A; Final 1-2.

PTI