Setback to hockey team two days before the start of Sultan Azlan Shah tourney as Ignace Tirkey is asked to leave
MUMBAI: The first blow has come even before the start of the campaign. The Indian hockey team, currently in Ipoh, Malaysia, for the Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament, suffered a setback two days before the start of their campaign when key midfielder Ignace Tirkey was asked to leave the team on Thursday. The elder brother of captain Prabodh, Ignace will be replaced by Vikram Kantha of Indian Oil.
“It was purely because of lack of fitness. His performance in the two warm-up matches was not up to the mark, and as per the advise of coach Joaquim Carvalho, we had to call him back,” confirmed K Jothikumaran, secretary, Indian Hockey Federation. He added that it was only after the coach informed the IHF that the decision was taken.
When asked whether his fitness was not evaluated before the departure of the team, the secretary said: “Ignace was doubtful from the start, but since he is one of our best players in the middle, we decided to take a chance. Sadly, it backfired.”
Also pulling out was RK Shetty from Bangalore, who was to accompany the team as manager. “Shetty informed us that he had to stay back in India as he had family problems. There will not be any replacement. The manager’s job would be handled by Mohinder Pal Singh,” added Jothikumaran.
Vikram Kanth is expected to join the team on Friday, ahead of India’s opening fixture against Australia on Saturday.
India lost 0-1 to Malaysia in their first practice game in Kuala Lumpur. The teams drew 1-1 in the next match. However, agency reports from Kuala Lumpur, however, quoted coach Carvalho as saying that “Ignace himself opted out because of personal reasons. The chief coach, who took charge barely a month back replacing Vasudevan Baskaran, also said that Ignace had passed the fitness test prior to the team’s departure to Malaysia.
Carvalho declined to elaborate on reasons that led to Ignace’s sudden departure, but it is learnt that the midfielder is in the process of securing his release from MEG, Bangalore, after getting an offer from a PSU.
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