Rupinder left out for World League Semifinal

New Delhi, May 26

In a surprise move, India today axed ace drag-flicker Rupinder Pal Singh for the upcoming Hockey World League (HWL) Semifinal. And the team’s chief coach Paul van Ass justified the decision, saying it was a tactical move aimed at trying out “variations” ahead of the Rio Games.

Besides Rupinder, midfielder SK Uthappa and strikers Mandeep Singh and Satbir Singh were the other players to have been dropped from the national team for tournament to be played in Antwerp, Belgium, from June 20 to July 5.

Rupinder’s axing came as a shock for all as over the last couple of years he became an integral part of the Indian team and also formed a formidable duo alongside VR Raghunath in the side’s drag-flick department.

But Van Ass clarified his choice and said by no means Rupinder was out of his scheme of things. “Of course, I am aware about that (only one drag-flicker in the team) but Jasjeet also has a good penalty corner. It’s also time for us to try variations,” Van Ass said.

“He (Rupinder) is not gone, he is not done. He didn’t do anything wrong but we also have to be prepared for any eventuality. Let’s be honest when the Olympics start and suppose your two drag-flickers are injured, what do you do then? It’s always a threat and its good to try out something else now,” he added.

All the four dropped players featured in last month’s Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh, Malaysia, where India finished third, and the four-match Test series against Japan which India won 3-0.

“Now we have a new core group of 33 and from that group I can always pick my players for a big tournament. Those guys will have to fight for positions until the Olympics,” he added.

Squad: PR Sreejesh, Harjot Singh, Manpreet Singh, Birendra Lakra, Kothajit Singh, VR Ragunath, Jasjit Singh Kular, Gurmail Singh, Gurbaj Singh, Dharamvir Singh, Sardar Singh, Chinglensana Singh, Lalit Upadhyay, SV Sunil, Nikkin Thimmaiah, Yuvraj Walmiki, Akashdeep Singh, Ramandeep Singh. — PTI