NEW DELHI, 16 December 2003 — Frosty hockey relations between India and Malaysia nose-dived further yesterday over India’s decision to field a near second-string team for next month’s Azlan Shah tournament.
The Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) rested nine senior players, including Gagan Ajit Singh and Dilip Tirkey, for the seven-nation invitation tournament in Kuala Lumpur from Jan. 8-18.
The Malaysian Hockey Federation has threatened to scratch the depleted Indian team, saying a second-string team will devalue the annual tournament.
World champions Germany, Australia, holders Pakistan, South Korea, Spain and hosts Malaysia are the other teams taking part in what is regarded as an important buildup for the Athens Olympics.
IHF secretary K. Jyotikumaran shot off a letter to the organizers, saying the decision to rest the nine senior players would not be reversed. “No one can dictate terms to us on the composition of the Indian team,” Jyotikumaran said.
It is unclear whether the other six teams will field their best players.
The nine Indians rested are Prabjot Singh, Dilip Tirkey, Gagan Ajit Singh, Deepak Thakur, Bimal Lakra, Viren Rasquina, Devesh Chauhan, Kanwalprit Singh and Vikram Pillay.
The list of 25 probables, to be pruned to 16, includes veteran playmaker Dhanraj Pillay and seasoned internationals Baljeet Saini and Baljit Dhillon.
The IHF also nominated junior coach Harendra Singh to take charge of the team while senior coach Rajinder Singh will travel to Kuala Lumpur as an “observer.”
England are standing by in case the organizers cancel the invitation to India.
