LAHORE: The Indian hockey team held its first practice session at the synthetic pitch adjoining the national hockey stadium here on Feb 11th,
Both Captain Pargat Singh and Ganesh ‘expressed confidence in the team but said all the matches in the league stages would be “tough”,
Spectators who watched the Indian team, the last to report, practice, raised “pro-Kashmir” and “pro-Khalistan” slogans as the team left for their hotel.
Special motorcycle escorts and an armed police van escorted the players’ coach.
Meanwhile, hosts Pakistan, who is launching an all-out bid to regain the world cup hockey title, have made a last-minute change in their team.
Right Winger Qasim Khan has been brought in place of the injured Zahid Sharif, who fractured his left toe, according to an announcement by Pakistan hockey federation secretary, Brig (RTD) A Hamid, here Saturday.
Pakistan open their group b league fixture with a match against Spain slated for 1545 (IST) Sunday. The match is preceded by a colorful opening ceremony.
Several cultural troupes were seen rehearsing near the stadium while the participating teams practiced on allotted time at the recently-completed second artificial pitch. The non-completion of work, on which at ‘one-stage, nearly wrecked Pakistan’s hopes of staging the world cup as the international hockey federation insisted on having the second pick.
India’s revival campaign flourished for a brief period before the Soviet Union came back from behind to hold them to one-all draw in their opening pool “A” league match of the world cup hockey championship here on Feb 12th.
India, who finished last in the 12-nation championship in 1986, took the lead in the 40th minute with center forward Jagbeer Singh connecting home a Thoiba Singh comer pushes,
But, 11 minutes later, an indirect conversion by Vitali Kholopov put paid to India hopes of taking full point’s front this match.
However, the Russians got their chance when an angular drive from pleashkov, off their second penalty comer, went to Kholopoy.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 16, 1990
