Following the indefinite postponement of the Hangzhou Asian Games due to a surge in COVID-19 cases in China, former India men’s hockey team captain Dilip Tirkey on Sunday said the authorities should send a full-strength team to the Commonwealth Games (CWG) in Birmingham. needed. just.
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Expressing disappointment over the postponement of the Asian Games further, Tirkey said India had a great chance of winning the competition and qualifying directly for the Paris Olympics 2024.
“I am of the opinion that Hockey India (HI) must send its No. 1 teams to the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in both men’s and women’s disciplines. It made sense to send your ‘A’ teams for the Commonwealth Games when the Asian Games were not postponed. It would have been difficult for the players to reach the summit (in both the events). Now I don’t see any reason not to send my best players to the Commonwealth Games. The sport is an important event in the calendar year and is attended by some of the toughest hockey playing nations such as England, Australia and New Zealand. So, I want our core team to go and compete,” said the former India captain.
In March this year, HI had named former captain Sardar Singh and former striker Deepak Thakur as coaches of the Indian men’s and women’s ‘A’ hockey teams, which will take part in the Commonwealth Games.
This happened after HI had decided not to send the main squads for the multi-sport event due to the low turnaround between the CWG and the Hangzhou Asiad.
The three-time Olympian said the men’s team’s No. 1 position in the FIH Pro League is on the way to win a gold medal in the Asiad.
“I had full confidence in my victory in the Asiad. Form and momentum were with us. This would have helped ensure your qualification for the Olympics two years ago. But, I don’t think the postponement is an ideal situation for us. Until the Asiad comes next year, some of our senior Indian players will retire. Only one year would be left to prepare for Paris 2024. I am not happy with the postponement. But, at the same time, the condition and value of human life has to be understood.”
Tirkey also advised the Indian team – don’t wait till the Asiad to qualify for the Olympics. “The boys should try to qualify from one of the continental qualification tournaments next year, if any are planned by the FIH before the Asiad,” he said.
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