Winning combination should be retained

CHANDIGARH, Dec 29: Manager of the victorious Indian hockey team in the 13th Bangkok Asian Games, Mahinder Singh Malik, Inspector General...

CHANDIGARH, Dec 29: Manager of the victorious Indian hockey team in the 13th Bangkok Asian Games, Mahinder Singh Malik, Inspector General of Police, Haryana Home Guards, today suggested that the winning combination should not be disturbed till the Sydney Olympics in 2000. He however also said that it was solely up to the Indian Hockey Federation to make changes, the authorities think are a `must’. “The IHF think-tank can make better verdict in selecting the team in the best interest of the nation,” said Malik, who himself happens to be the vice-president of the federation.

Making another suggestion, Malik said that thoughtful planning and rigorous training programme were required to be drafted immediately. “I feel the team should be exposed to constant international competitions. A three-month training programme should be arranged in Sydney prior to the 2000 Olympics. Competing against Australia, Germany and Holland in Sydney would help the Indian players further raise their mental and physical fitness,” said Malik, who is also the president of the Haryana Hockey Association.

The hockey manager disclosed that the Indian Hockey Federation had already arranged a series of Test matches against Pakistan on a reciprocal-basis. In the first phase, the 18-member Pakistan team would play four Test matches in February next year. The visitors will arrive in Delhi on February 2 and play the first Test in Delhi on February 3. The second Test will be conducted at Bhopal on February 5 and the third Test is slated for Hyderabad on February 8 and the fourth in Chennai on February 10.

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In the second phase the Indian team will play Test matches in Pakistan from February 15 to 25. The Test matches in Pakistan will be played at Lahore (Feb 16), Karachi (Feb 18), Peshawar (Feb 20), Rawalpindi (Feb 21) and Lahore (Feb 24).

He gave full marks to the excellent coaching and team work for winning the gold medal in Asian Games after a gap of 32 years. “The credit for the remarkable victory at Bangkok also goes to the IHF president KPS Gill for drafting a well-conceived training programme.” The IHF president has also planned for incentives for the players to keep their moral and motivation at the highest level. The IHF had written a letter to Prime Minister AB Vajpayee on December 24, requesting him to issue directions to the concerned departments for out-of-turn promotion for the members of the gold medal winning hockey team, including the coaches.

The Punjab Government has already promoted Ramandeep Singh and Baljit Singh Dhillon as Deputy Superintendent of Police. The IHF has urged the Prime Minister that Indian captain Dhanraj Pillay should be promoted as an executive in the Mahindra and Mahindra. Ashish Ballal, AB Subbaiah, Mukesh Kumar should be promoted as managers in Indian Airlines. Dilip Tirkey, Lazarus Barla, and Sameer Dad should be made assistant managers in Indian Airlines while Anil Aldrin (Air India) should be made flight purser. Mohd Riaz should be promoted as deputy manager in Indian Airlines. Sandeep Somesh, Sabu Varkey (both of Bharat Petroleum) should be promoted as senior sales officer and deputy general manager respectively. Baljit Singh Saini of Punjab and Sind Bank should get the next grade of senior manager. Thirumal Valavan and Laxaman Prabhakar should be promoted as assistant manager and manager respectively.

IHF has suggested that coach M.K Kaushik should be promoted as Joint Director in Haryana Sports Department while MR Negi should be made Assistant Commissioner in Bombay Customs.