Ramandeep ruled out ahead of Australia clash
BREDA,NETHERLANDS:INDIA hockey team striker Ramandeep Singh has been ruled out of the ongoing Champions Trophy due to a knee injury, dealing a blow after the bright start to their campaign.
India are on a high after thumping Pakistan 4-0 and edging out Rio Olympics champions Argentina 2-1, but they will be without the seasoned player’s services when they taken on Australia on Wednesday. “Ramandeep complained about a pinch in his right knee at half-time during our match against Pakistan. But when we rested him for the Argentina match and took an MRI on Monday, it revealed he has sustained a full thickness condral fractureinjury in the centre of his right knee,” India chief coach Harendra Singh said in a Hockey India statement.
India also face formidable Belgium and Netherlands in mustwin matches to qualify for the final of a tournament they have not won.
Ramandeep provided the spark in India’s comprehensive win over Pakistan in the opening match by scoring the first goal. He also assisted Lalit Upadhyay in the 60th minute.
Harendra, guiding the men’s team in a major tournament for the first since being appointed chief coach, was confident the rest of the squad would overcome the setback of being one man down. “We will certainly miss him, we missed him against Argentina too. He is an experienced player and the way he creates space and takes shots on goal has worked for the team. Playing high speed hockey with 17 players can get a bit tiring for the players. But that should not be a deterrent in our pursuit to earn a place in the final,” he said.
INDIA AIM TO UPSTAGE AUSTRALIA
BREDA, NETHERLANDS: Their campaign off to a dream start with back-to-back wins, India would look to continue the giant-slaying spree when they take on world champions Australia in their third match of the FIH Champions Trophy hockey tournament, on Wednesday.
In pursuit of their maiden Champions Trophy title in the 37th and final edition of the event, the Indians could not have asked for a better start, mauling arch-rivals Pakistan 4-0 before stunning world No.2 and reigning Olympic champions Argentina 2-1 in their opening two games.
India are now leading the six-team standings with six points from two wins, just ahead of Australia (4 points). The top two teams in the round robin league will face each other in the summit clash on Sunday.
The Commonwealth Games debacle behind them, the Indians came out with new vigour and purpose here under new chief coach Harendra Singh, who swapped roles with Sjoerd Marijne as the women’s team coach.
Under Harendra, who took over for the fourth time in his career, the Indian team looked a completely transformed side, desperate to make amends for the Gold Coast disaster.