‘Unfit’ Sandeep pulls out

Chennai, January 14 : Ace drag-flicker Sandeep Singh will not be in the Indian squad for the Beijing Olympic qualifying tournament in Chile from March 1-9 as he has opted out of the ongoing Bangalore camp as well as the five-Test Belgium series.

His not attending the camp and opting out of the Belgium series means that his chances of figuring in the Beijing Olympics in August are remote. K Jothikumaran, secretary Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) said, “Sandeep (Singh) has sent a medical certificate stating that he has been advised rest by his doctor till January 27. It meant that he is not available for the Belgium-India series,’ he said.

Releasing the fixture for the Belgium-India series at a press conference here this evening, Jothikumaran said India are slated to play Belgium here on Jan 25, 27, 28, 30 and 31.

The Hockey Test series is the result of Pakistan’s withdrawal from a proposed three-nation tournament involving Belgium and India to be held here from January 22. Following their pullout, the IHF has converted the tournament into a five-Test series between Belgium and India.

“Pakistan have pulled out of the tournament and the Indian Hockey Federation has now scheduled the five-Test series,” said chief national coach Joaquim Carvalho . The tournament was proposed to provide Indian players vital match practice ahead of the Olympic Qualifiers.

On the preparation of the team for the qualifers in Chile, Carvalho said, “the national team is always on the job of achieving their goal. Our immediate goal is to gain a berth for the Beijing Olympics and then try to be successful in the Games.”

“Needless to say, the probables are always on the job of gaining an Olympic berth and the players have been training since the Asia Cup win,” he said.

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