Chandigarh, Feb 28 (IANS) Top Indian players are likely to give the World Series Hockey (WSH), which begins here Wednesday, a miss, officials of participating teams said Tuesday.
The stand-off between rival hockey factions, Hockey India (HI) and Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), is being blamed for the players, particularly those representing the national hockey team, being unable to make it for the inaugural WSH.
Coaches of Bhopal Badshahs, which is led by Indian player Sardara Singh, and Chandigarh Comets told reporters here separately that leading players are unlikely to participate in the WSH since they had neither confirmed their participation so far nor had they joined the training sessions of their respective club sides.
Chandigarh Comets’ coach Hirendra Singh said that he had tried to contact some players but they had not committed their participation so far.
“The Indian team players have not reported for the WSH camp so far. We will carry on with the players that we have,” Hirendra Singh told the media.
Drag-flicker Sandeep Singh, Shivendra Singh and other leading players have also not arrived here so far, nor there is any news about their participation.
Badshahs’ coach V. Bhaskaran also said that he was not sure about the participation of Indian team players in the cash-rich tournament.
The inaugural season of Bridgestone World Series Hockey (WSH) will see a star-studded opening – Bollywood celebrities like Saif Ali Khan, Neha Dhupia and singer Mika will perform at the event here Wednesday.
The opening match of the WSH is between the Bhopal Badshahs and Chandigarh Comets in the month-long tournament.
