Dropped from India's scheme of things for Azlan Shah Cup, senior forwards Prabhjot Singh and Deepak Thakur today claimed they have been made scapegoats for the team's poor show in the recent World Cup.
Former technical director Ric Charlesworth feels the Indian hockey team has improved in its style of play under coach Jose Brasa but needs to formulate three facets: set long term goals, play as many international matches as possible and privatise the game.
Bruised and battered by Australia, India will have to regroup their forces when they take on Spain in a crucial Pool B encounter of the hockey World Cup in New Delhi on Thursday.
Hockey India named a 23-member strong Indian squad for a 25-day European tour, starting later this month, where Spaniard Jose Brasa will make his debut as national team coach. Drag-flicker Sandeep Singh has been retained captain of the side for the tour, on which India will play a series of 12 Test matches against England, Belgium, Spain and Holland.
Brimming with confidence after the team's recent four-nation tour of Europe, captain Sandeep Singh said India will be a force to reckon with at next year's hockey World Cup in Delhi.
PR Sreejesh is considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world at the moment, but he feels that the absence of an experienced back up custodian is a major worry.
Hockey India on Saturday sacked national coach Roelant Oltmans after a string of unimpressive outings at the international level.
India has always been a difficult place to work for foreign hockey coaches due to difference of opinion with national federations and bureaucratic hurdles.
Chief coach of the Indian men's hockey Michael Nobbs said on Tuesday he wasn't "pushed out" but willingly resigned from the job owing to deteriorating health.
High Performance Director Roelant Oltmans was on Saturday appointed coach of the Indian hockey team, replacing Paul van Ass, who was unceremoniously sacked after a bitter spat with Hockey India president Narinder Batra.
Fired India hockey coach Paul van Ass says Hockey India president Narinder Batra was just finding ways to fire him.
Indian men's hockey team chief coach Paul van Ass on Monday claimed that he has been fired by Hockey India following his alleged public altercation with federation president Narinder Batra.
Paul van Ass, who claims he was fired as chief coach of India's men's hockey team following an altercation with Hockey India president Narinder Batra, says he is willing to resume duties provided there is no "interference" in his work.
Barely five months into the job, uncertainty looms large over Paul van Ass continuing as chief coach of India's men's hockey team.
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