The Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist, the Indian men’s hockey team resumed training at SAI Bangalore on Monday, October 4. The team took the field for the first time since the podium finish in Tokyo and looked completely upbeat and excited for their upcoming international activities.
All the COVID protocol guidelines are being strictly followed in the camp. The players have gone through the COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) and are staying in separate rooms as per the quarantine rules. They have been training outdoors in a different slot and are not mingling with other campers at Sai Bangalore. Sai’s modified SOPs allow external training.
The men’s hockey team is likely to participate in the Asian Champions Trophy to be held in Dhaka in December this year, the Commonwealth Games to be held in Birmingham in July 2022, the Asian Games to be held in China in September 2022 and the World Cup, to be hosted by India in January 2023. in Paris Olympics before 2024.
Team captain Manpreet Singh thanked the administration and SAI Bangalore staff for working overtime to provide all facilities to the team during the long training camp ahead of the Tokyo Olympics. Manpreet said, “I would like to thank the entire staff of SAI Bangalore and the Regional Director on behalf of the entire team for their whole hearted support to the team even in difficult times.”
Head coach Graham Reid said the team was returning to training after a well-deserved break and that this preparatory camp would help players adapt to their priorities in the coming months. He expressed happiness over the support extended by SAI Bangalore to the players ahead of the Tokyo Olympics despite the challenges of the COVID situation. “The boys are excited to resume training and we are looking forward to our future engagements,” the head coach said.
Team’s assistant coach, Piyush Dubey said that after 41 years in the Olympic hockey event, the boys are looking forward to their future engagements after the excitement of winning a bronze medal for the country. “Right now our entire focus is on the Asian Champions Trophy to be held in December this year and this month-long camp will mainly focus on improving the physical condition of the players,” he added.
The men’s team was felicitated on its return in a grand manner at the premises of Sai Bangalore on Monday. A felicitation ceremony was organized in honor of the team, in which the junior players were accorded a traditional welcome. The team was felicitated by former regional heads of SAI Bangalore including 1972 Olympic medalists MP Ganesh and ASV Prasad. Both sh. Ganesh and Sh. Prasad lauded the efforts of the players and the coaching staff in their performance in Tokyo, saying that their performance had boosted the country’s hopes and hoped that they would change the color of their medals at the Paris Olympics.
Ritu A Pathik, Regional Head SAI Bangalore assured that SAI will provide all possible support to the team in all aspects of their training and thanked the team for making the country proud. The entire event was moderated by junior hockey players who in an interactive session with them asked senior players interesting questions about their Olympic journey.
read all breaking news, breaking news And coronavirus news Here. follow us on Facebook, Twitter And Wire.
.