Confident India hit by injuries ahead of Oman match

A confident but injury-hit India would look to rest two its key players when they take on a lowly Oman in their third round-robin league match of the second Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament here on Sunday.

With two wins from as many matches, defending champions India have started the tournament on a bright note and would be hoping to continue their winning run in the event. India, who defeated China 4-0 and Japan 3-1 in their opening two games, undoubtedly start as favourites against Oman on Sunday. But injuries to two of its key players — strikers Dharamvir Singh and S V Sunil — remains a matter of grave concern for India's chief coach Michael Nobbs.

"Dharamvir and Sunil are doubtful. Sunil has ankle injury and Dharamvir has a shoulder injury. Their x-rays are OK but they have to go for a MRI now," a worried Nobbs said on the eve of the game. While Sunil twisted his ankle in the match against Japan, Dharamvir suffered a shoulder injury in the opener against China.

Dharamvir and Sunil are key to India's strategy upfront and their unavailability means Nobbs will have to depend on young forwards to do the job in the duo's absence. India, Pakistan and Malaysia, all have won two matches each and have six points in their kitty. But the Sardar Singh-led side is presently lying in the third spot on goal aggregate.