WC hockey: Raghunath picked for injured Sandeep

NEW DELHI: Penalty-corner specialist Raghunath has finally been picked as a replacement for injured Sandeep Singh for the hockey World Cup in Germany this month, the Indian Hockey Federation said on Monday.

"Raghunath has been selected in consultation with the coach (V.Baskaran)," Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) secretary K Jothikumaran said.

"The other two -- Jugraj Singh and Vikramjit Singh -- who were sent with the team as possible replacements will be flying back today (Monday)," the secretary informed.

Raghunath joined the Indian team in Germany on Friday as a third possible replacement for Sandeep and seems to have impressed Baskaran at practice sessions and a match against Japan on Saturday, which India won 3-1. He was involved in converting one of the penalty corners.

Sandeep was ruled out of the World Cup a day before the team left for Germany on Aug 22 as he was shot when a railway police officer's revolver accidentally went off. The incident occurred when he and forward Rajpal Yadav were travelling on the Chandigarh-Delhi Shatabdi Express to join the team.

The upcoming penalty-corner specialist received serious injuries in his abdomen and had to be operated upon, while Yadav escaped unhurt.

Raghunath along with Jugraj and under-19 captain Vikramjit was initially named in the list of possible replacement for Sandeep.

But the IHF, reportedly without consulting Baskaran, sent both Jugraj and Vikramjit leaving out Raghunath who was then doing the national duty at the South Asian Games in Colombo.

This had apparently upset Baskaran, as neither he nor the technical staff was consulted.