Hockey camp to focus on fitness, skills

 After a below-par show at the Rio Olympics, the Indian men’s hockey team will return to its base at the SAI South centre in Bengaluru for the preparatory camp ahead of the upcoming Asian Champions Trophy in October.

The four-week long camp will focus on team’s fitness, skills, tactics and will also give the side an opportunity to introspect on its performance at the Rio Games.

“This camp is crucial as we prepare for some major tournaments starting with the Asian Champions Trophy in Malaysia where we will meet arch rivals Pakistan among other top teams,” said chief coach Roelant Oltmans.

“There are some areas we would specifically like to focus on and experiment with different tactics in terms of creating field goals and also earning PCs. 

“We will be touring Australia in November and hope to carry the good form Down Under. The next two years for the Indian hockey are crucial with the upcoming Hockey World Cup in India in 2018,” remarked Oltmans.

The probables: PR Sreejesh, Sardar Singh, Akashdeep Singh, Chinglensana Singh, Danish Mujtaba, Surender Kumar, Abhinav Pandey, Akash Chikte, Rupinder Pal Singh, Pardeep Mor, Jasjit Singh Kular, Birendra Lakra, Satbir Singh, Dharamvir Singh, Talwinder Singh, Lalit Upadhyay, Mohd. Amir Khan, Affan Yousuf, Manpreet Singh, VR Raghunath, SV Sunil, Devindar Walmiki, Nikkin Thimmaiah, SK Uthappa, Kothajit Singh and Ramandeep Singh.