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  Good experience for youngsters: Sardar Singh

Good experience for youngsters: Sardar Singh

AGE CORRESPONDENT
Published : Apr 19, 2016, 10:34 pm IST
Updated : Apr 19, 2016, 10:34 pm IST

Skipper Sardar Singh said the trio of Harmanpreet Singh, Harjeet Singh and Surender Kumar showed that they are ones for the future.

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 19HOCK2.jpg

Skipper Sardar Singh said the trio of Harmanpreet Singh, Harjeet Singh and Surender Kumar showed that they are ones for the future.

India hockey skipper Sardar Singh has predicted a “bright future” for the young trio of Harmanpreet Singh, Harjeet Singh and Surender Kumar after their impressive show in the Sultan Azlan Shah tournament in Ipoh, Malaysia, where the team finished with a silver medal.

India had fielded a relatively young team in Malaysia to test their bench strength ahead of the Rio Olympics. Regular goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh too was rested.

“This was a good experience for youngsters, who were playing in the senior team for the first time. In particular, Harmanpreet, Surender and Harjeet showed that they are capable of playing at the higher level and fit into the team nicely,” Sardar said on the team’s arrival in the capital on Monday.

Added coach Roelant Oltmans, “It was a good preparation for Rio. We have identified some of our weaknesses, which a tournament like this highlights, and can now work on them extensively to make sure we can have a strong showing at the Olympics.”

This year’s performance was India’s best in this tournament since 2010, when they won the gold.

India defeated Japan, Canada, Pakistan and Malaysia but lost the final to Australia. They also lost to New Zealand during the league stage.

The squad will now gather in Bengaluru on April 25 for a month-long camp ahead of a Europe tour.