Former Australian captain believes WSH as a resurgent for hockey in India
With the current de-recognition of the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), its upcoming league, World Series Hockey (WSH) still has all eyes set by the top athletes that showed their interest in taking part in the Indian Premier League
(IPL) style event.
About five veteran players of India did not show up at their national camp the day on which IHF announced the final team lists. Hockey India (HI) was offended by the players’ unprofessional behaviour and threatened for a strict action
over them.
However, in the eyes of the Australian Olympic legend, Brent James Livermore, WSH will play a huge role in revolutionising the sport in the country.
The league is a one-of-a-kind hockey event with an introductory concept and will comprise of 176 athletes from various countries. These athletes will be categorised into eight teams that will be named after some cities of the country.
According to the 2004 Athens Olympic gold-medallist, he had observed a decline in the team’s performance since the last decade that resulted into a failure to appear in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
At the league’s launch, Livermore admired the competency of players in India and said, “The potential, and skill levels, of individual players here, is really good. They play with passion and their ball control is amazing."
WSH is scheduled to take place from December 15 to January 22, 2012. Livermore will be taking care of the development of the junior players of India and expressed that the league will be the best to recognise the capability within
the senior players, prior to the Olympic qualifiers.
The 35-year-old continued, "Since the WSH will have intense competition, this could be the opportunity the Indian players should look to take in their stride."
He also honoured the seasoned player Dhanraj Pillay, as a role model for the junior hockey side of the country and stated, "I played against Dhanraj in the Sydney Olympics, and many others who are still part of the current Indian team.
Dhanraj is a great player, a role model for many players here."
Talking over the recent appointment of his native fellow player, Michael Jack Nobbs, as the Indian national team’s chief coach, he shared the fact that Nobbs is making efforts to take the team to another level.
Livermore stated that Nobbs has some unique strategies that will help him attain the desired output. However, Livermore commented that there is still no guarantee regarding the team’s qualification into the Olympics ahead.
On the whole, Livermore is looking forward to field an Australian squad that will feature the 2012 Olympics in spite of the fact that the team’s coach, Ric Charlesworth is focusing in inducting young players in the team.
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