Injuries are frustrating for any sportsman. More so, if it occurs ahead of a big tournament. SV Sunil will agree injury.
The star India forward suffered a ligament tear in his elbow just days before the 2013 Asia Cup, which meant the team went into the tournament without one of their main weapons. The 24-year-old is back, playing for the Punjab Warriors in the ongoing Hockey India League, and is desperate to make up for the lost time this year.
“I got injured just three days before the Asia Cup. I was very disappointed to miss it because it’s such an important tournament, and more so as the team did really well to reach the final. But I underwent rehab in Bangalore, worked hard and made a comeback to the team (in the Hockey World League),” Sunil told dna here on Friday.
The team, under the new coach Terry Walsh, showed an upward trend in the HWL, even beating Germany for the first time in almost 10 years and improved their world ranking. Sunil is all praise for the new Australian in charge.
“Walsh’s planning of the game and workout sessions are really great. He stresses a lot on fitness, and I think that’s the key reason why we’re playing well now and showing improvement. We hope to keep it going till the World Cup, and get a good result there,” the Kodagu lad said.
“As a coach, he’s very good. His teaching of the basics, and his structure of going about things is something that the boys have taken to. He’s worked on every aspect – right from ball stopping to ball dribbling,” he said.
With three crucial tournaments lined up – World Cup, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. Sunil feels the team has it in them to win a medal in the latter two. “Well, not in the World Cup,” Sunil said. “But we can surely win a medal in the Commonwealth and Asian Games.
“Look, we played well to beat Germany. But you can’t expect the team to win the World Cup so fast. We will try, for sure, and will play our best hockey.
Sunil is eager to make a mark in all those key events. But again, he fears that dreaded ‘I’ word.
“I missed three tournaments last year due to injuries. So this year my biggest challenge will be to keep myself fit. I really want to play well in them and win a medal for India,” he said.
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