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Dhanraj says we don’t deserve to be in Olympics

Fuming over India’s recent loss to China in the Doha Asian Games, Dhanraj Pillay said that India did not deserve to go to the Olympics.

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Former captain says money should not be wasted on the hockey team

CHENNAI: Fuming over India’s recent loss to China in the Doha Asian Games, hockey icon Dhanraj Pillay on Friday said that India did not deserve to compete in Olympics. The former India captain said: “If we cannot beat China, then we do not have the right to compete in Olympics. Olympics is a great event and we should not waste our country’s money on it.”

Dhanraj blamed the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) for the decline and said: “India should at least be among the top six in the Olympics. But that was not the case.”

About the bizarre loss to China in Doha that cost India a semifinal berth, Dhanraj said: “I think in my memory and during my 16-year-old career we have never lost to China.” For the first time in the history of Indian hockey, India had finished fifth in the Asian Games.

Dhanraj blasted present coach Vasudevan Baskaran. “Basakran was a failure. I know in and out about his coaching knowledge. He does not have the latest coaching know-how,” he said. But the former captain said he was not in favour of a foreign coach. 

“I have been opposing this idea (foreign coach) for a long time. I don’t think India need a foreigner to train the players. When our coaches can produce players like Dhanraj Pillay and Pargat Singh, then why do we need foreign coaches,’’ he asked.

He regretted for not being selected for the Maratha Warriors in the Premier Hockey League. “I feel bad. I was not chosen because the IHF did not want me. The other teams like Bangalore Lions and Sher-e-Jalandhar also wanted me to play for them. But IHF said no,” he added. “I challenge everyone. I am very much fit.

I played in the  MCC Murugappa Gold Cup tournament recently. You (the press) all saw it. I am still fit and have a lot of hockey left  in me,” he added.

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