Officials come down heavily on Indian hockey players after dismal exit from Asian Games

08/31/2018

Livid with the Indian men’s hockey team’s unexpected failure to defend the Asian Games title, officials have come down heavily on the players. A Hockey India official has stated that the World Cup will be the last chance for chief coach Harendra Singh and the support staff to retain their jobs.

Ranked fifth in the world, defending champions India were favourites to retain their title and they looked on course after an unbeaten pool campaign during which they registered a record 76 goals. But the Indians disappointed when it mattered the most, conceding a late goal in the semifinal to lose to world no. 12 Malaysia 6-7 in the shoot-out after both the teams were locked 2-2 at the end of regulation time. The loss also cost them a direct qualification to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Speaking about India’s dismal performance, a hockey Indian official lashed out at the players saying they have become spoilt brats having no regard for discipline. He further said the hockey players should learn from the players in other fields.

“Our men players have become spoilt brats. They are always busy on social media and have no regard for discipline. They should learn from athletes, shooters and badminton players,” the official said.

The Hockey India official also took a dig at the team management and said the World Cup would decide the future of the players and the team management.

“I have no words to say. It was an awful and unexpected performance from the team. The players and the team management has let the entire nation down. With the World Cup round the corner we can’t make any changes now but performance in the World Cup would decide the future of the players and the team management,” he added.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) too was fuming with the men’s hockey team’s dismal show as it was expected to be a sure-shot gold. President Narinder Batra said the association will now focus on sports that have performed beyond expectations.

“It was shocking to say the least. You are ranked 5th in the world and against a side which is ranked 12th in the world, you looked clueless. The government has been very supportive over the years but they have failed to deliver. We will concentrate on sports like athletics, badminton, shooting and other sports which have performed beyond expectations,” Batra, who is a former chief of Hockey India, said.

Officials come down heavily on Indian hockey players after dismal exit from Asian Games

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