Dr Vece Paes briefed them on how to remain fit and fresh for the entire duration of the game.
On this day 72 years ago, the Indian hockey team gave the country its first major sporting triumph as an independent nation when they clinched the gold medal at the 1948 London Olympic Games.
Following India's not-so-impressive World Cup campaign, chief coach Jose Brasa on Thursday unveiled the roadmap for hockey's revival and demanded more control in the day-to-day running of the team.
Shilanand finally made his way back into the national team and on Thursday, not only provided a superb assist but also scored a goal with a lovely deflection in India's 4-1 win over Malaysia in the Super 4 stage of the Asia Cup.
The Indian hockey team's former technical adviser and current Australia coach Ric Charlesworth lambasted the Delhi Commonwealth Games organisers, calling them "crazy" and "disrespectful" for scheduling matches in the middle of the day.
India's men's hockey team clinched a second successive bronze medal at the Olympics for the first time in 52 years after a come-from-behind 2-1 victory win over Spain, giving veteran goalkeeper P R Sreejesh a fitting farewell in Paris on Thursday.
'Right now hockey is totally changed and anyone can beat anyone depending on the day. It depends on how many chances you create.'
It was stalwart India goalkeeper and former skipper Savita Punia's 300th international match but she was beaten in the seventh minute by a reverse hit from a Reijnen.
India's silver medal winning performance in the 36th Hero Champions Trophy has earned the players and team officials a reward from Hockey India.
Hockey India on Saturday sacked national coach Roelant Oltmans after a string of unimpressive outings at the international level.
PR Sreejesh, who is playing his last international tournament, on Friday said he is the Dhanraj Pillay for youngsters of the current team.
