India's dashing forward Deepak Thakur has been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the Olympic Games village hospital following a breathing problem and will remain under observation for the next 24 hours, the Indian Hockey Federation said in Athens on Sunday.

Thakur, who came to the team bench after the hooter for full time was sounded against New Zealand on Saturday, collapsed due to breathing problems, IHF media manager Anupam Ghulati said.

He had stopped breathing for a while and the medical staff at the ground used an oxygen mask to revive him, Ghulati said, adding the player was then moved to the ICU.

Ghulati confirmed that Thakur did not sustain any ball injury as was thought earlier.

"Thakur's condition is now stable but he will be kept under observation in ICU for the next 24 hours," he said.

Dr Vece Paes, one of the doctors accompanying the Indian contingent, said the problem was "quite normal" and added that such instances are common with sportsmen.

"The player has a rib cage problem and this led to the complication. But it is quite normal and not very serious," Paes said.