Just before the start of the high profile Hero Hockey World League Semi-final, India suffered two shocks; one in injury to the ace drag flicker and defender Rupinder Pal Singh and other due to a family emergency for midfielder SK Uthappa. The two hockey players have been ruled out of the tournament which starts tomorrow, June 15, at London.
Rupinder Pal Singh will be unavailable for the tournament due to a hamstring injury sustained during the long season of men’s team. SK Uthappa will return home to attend to a family emergency.
Speaking about the development, the Chief Coach of Indian Hockey team said, “With a strong Core Group who have been working together since February this year, we have several options and I don’t see this as a setback for us at all.”
Replacements have been named for the two players: while the injured Rupinder Pal Singh is to be replaced by defender Jasjit Singh Kular, who also doubles up as a dragflicker for the team, Sumit, has been called up in place of Uthappa. Kular has played 46 international matches for India with 5 international goals against his name. He was part of the 33-member core group that trained in SAI, Bengaluru. Sumit made his Senior team debut at the 26th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Tournament after a successful 2016 with the Junior Men’s Team where the juniors won the World Cup,
India will take on Scotland in their first match on Thursday 15 June 2017.
1 comment
ITS VERY UNFORTUNATE TO LOSE TWO IMPORTANT PLAYERS . RUPINDER PAL SINGH HAD ADDED ADVANTAGE AS DRAG FICKER OF WORLD CLASS . WE PRAY FOR HIS EARLY RECOVERY . OUR SYMPATHIES WITH SK UTHAPPA TO MISS THE GREAT EVENT ,