WC on mind, hockey side in Europe

NEW DELHI: Gearing up to present a strong challenge at the upcoming World Cup, the Indian hockey team will head for a tour of Europe on Wednesday to play five build-up games — including two each against World Cup hosts The Netherlands.

The team will also play two matches against Dutch National Clubs and one against Belgium during the trip which would conclude on April 19. The World Cup is scheduled to be held at The Hague, Netherlands from May 31 to June 15.

GUPTA MAKES GREAT START AT DUBAI CHESS DUBAI: Highest ranked Indian in the fray Abhijeet Gupta got off to a flier, defeating Osman Abdelgadir of Sudan, while Grandmaster MR Lalith Babu was held to a draw by Elena Partac of Moldova in the first round of the 16th Dubai International open chess that got underway here on Tuesday.

It turned out to be a good day in the office for Gupta as he had to exert little for a maximum result against Abdelgadir. Playing the white side of an English opening, Gupta got an early advantage and then spotted a simple tactic to earn a knight for just a pawn. The rest was easy.

HOCKEY SERIES WITH PAKISTAN UNLIKELY

NEW DELHI: Pakistan might be keen to revive the bilateral hockey series against India this year but Hockey India is not too optimistic about a 2014 date and feels 2015 would be ideal to renew the event between the two neighbouring nations. The source said HI will seek clearance for the tour only after a new government is in place. “We are committed to the tour but we haven’t sought permission for it yet. There is no point in putting the request now as a new government will be in place soon,” said a top HI source.