Former stalwarts of Indian Hockey– Harbinder Singh and Zafar Iqbal are excited to witness the Indian Males’s Hockey Staff in motion in opposition to Germany on the Main Dhyan Chand Nationwide Stadium in New Delhi. India will face off in opposition to the Olympic Silver medallists on the twenty third and twenty fourth of October. Worldwide hockey is returning to New Delhi after a decade with this occasion and a number of other dignitaries, together with former hockey stars are anticipated to attend the occasion. The final time India performed on the Main Dhyan Chand Nationwide Stadium was the Hero Hockey World League Remaining – Males’s Spherical 4, again in January 2014.
“1972 was the final time I performed hockey in Delhi for the nationwide staff. I bear in mind the Shivaji Stadium was stuffed to the brim and the followers had been on their ft cheering for us. I imagine a variety of followers will flip as much as cheer for India and Germany as effectively. They are going to be witnessing a high-level worldwide match after a decade in any case,” Padma Shri Harbinder Singh, winner of the 1964 Tokyo Gold, 1968 Mexico Bronze, and 1972 Munich Bronze on the Olympics commented.
Zafar Iqbal, Gold medallist on the 1980 Moscow Olympics and Captain of the 1982 Asian Video games Silver profitable staff in Delhi additionally weighed in saying, “Again in our period, hockey had an immense following. Occasions just like the Nehru Gold Cup, Asian Video games and different worldwide matches drew a variety of supporters and palpable pleasure at all times adopted the large stadiums we performed in. Germany is a troublesome staff, we beat them within the Tokyo Olympics to win the Bronze medal and misplaced to them lately within the Semi Finals at Paris so, I am certain Indians will probably be rooting for us to get one over them.”
Final 12 months, Chennai hosted the Males’s Asian Champions Trophy, whereas Ranchi welcomed each the Ladies’s Asian Champions Trophy and the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifier. This November, Rajgir, a metropolis in Bihar, will host the upcoming Ladies’s Asian Champions Trophy.
“Excessive-profile matches ought to be hosted at varied venues throughout the nation, giving an opportunity for folks from all areas to witness the staff stay in motion and develop the next for the game, along with preserving our gamers sharp for vital worldwide tournaments,” Harbinder Singh lauded Hockey India’s initiative to take hockey to all components of the nation.
Zafar Iqbal additionally urged supporters to show up in numbers saying, “The final impression earlier than was that India is a staff that concedes objectives late in video games however that has modified now, we’re the most effective groups on this planet in all facets. The amenities are prime notch and I’m certain the sport will probably be crammed with riveting motion. And, I want to take this chance to ask hockey followers to show up in numbers to assist our staff.”
(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is printed from a syndicated feed.)
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