Preview: WSH to kick off even if Indian players stay away

The World Series Hockey (WSH) gets underway later today but concerns remain over the participation of the players from the Indian team, that qualified for the Olympics on Sunday. Media reports yesterday said Indian players, including skipper Sardar Singh and star drag-flicker Sandeep Singh are likely to skip the inaugural cash-rich tournament. In today’s opening match, Chandigarh Comets take on Bhopal Badshahs, led by Sardar Singh, and coaches of both the teams lamented that the “standoff” between Hockey India (HI) and Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) was not helping the cause of players and the sport. [caption id=“attachment_229677” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“The World Series Hockey (WSH) gets underway later today but concerns remain over the participation of the players from the Indian team, that qualified for the Olympics on Sunday. Reuters”] [/caption] Addressing separate news conferences last evening at the Sector 42 hockey stadium in New Delhi, coaches of the two teams said players were mature enough to take their own call whether to participate or not in the month-long tournament. Comets’ coach Harendra Singh said he had tried to talk to his players PR Sreejesh, Sarvanjit Singh and Birendra Lakra, but had received no reply from them. “The India players have not reported to the camp yet. Bringing players is not in my domain. I will proceed with whatever I have and that’s my job as a coach,” he said. Harendra tried to put up a brave front when asked if it would take the sheen away from the tournament if star players are missing. “I will still like to take positive out of it. It will help bring to light some new talent, which in the long run will be good for Indian hockey,” he said, adding that despite the controversies “the show must go on”. Asked about skipper Rehan Butt, who leads Chandigarh Comets, Harendra said his participation also remains doubtful. Bhopal Badshahs coach Bhaskaran said he was not sure about the participation of players including star India player Sardar Singh and Shivendra Singh. India players, who helped the country seal their berth for the London Olympics after winning the Hockey qualifier, are fearing bans from the FIH, which is currently working for a solution to the long impasse between the HI and IHF. The FIH has made it clear that though they are not in favour of bans, it cannot give sanction to the lucrative league until the two warring factions — HI and IHF — reach an agreement. HI have also made matters worse for the players as a day after India booked a place for the Olympics, they announced a list of 48 probables and also named the date of national camp from 5 March in Bangalore. Addressing the media, Bhaskaran claimed that just a month back Sports Minister Ajay Maken had given him and 30 other Olympians, who had a meeting with him, assurance that no training camp will be kept during the WSH, which had already been postponed in December for the Olympic qualifiers. “But what is happening now is completely the opposite,” Bhaskaran said. Nimbus Sport COO Yannick Colaco, meanwhile, assured the participation of the India players and said: “Players have taken a break after their good show at the qualifiers but they have personally confirmed to me that they will participate in the WHS.” Both the coaches maintained that participation of key Indian players would have only helped the cause of the players and the team as WSH would have provided them the ideal platform before the London Olympics. “It would have been a wonderful opportunity for everyone. After the Olympic qualifiers, it would have given the right signal and further helped promote the game,” Harendra said. “Who is most important, it is the players. Let the show go on. If two warring factions sit together and sort out the issues, it will be good for the sport.” Teams: Bengaluru: Arjun Halappa (captain), Jude Felix (coach); Bhopal: Sardar Singh (captain), V Bhaskaran (coach); Chandigarh: Rehan Butt (captain), Harendra Singh (coach); Chennai: Brent Livermore (captain), Jose Brasa (coach); Delhi: Lucas Vila (captain), Roelant Oltmans (coach); Mumbai: Adrian D Souza (captain), Andrew Meredith (coach); Pune: Rodrigo Garza (captain), Gundeep Singh (coach); Punjab: Prabhjot Singh (captain), Rajinder Singh (coach). PTI