Will injured Gurwinder Singh Chandi be ready for 9th Asia Cup?

Gurwinder Singh Chandi

A full-strength side is always a blessing for any side for any tournament and the upcoming 9th Asia Cup hockey tournament will be no different.

But for the Indian men’s hockey team, all is not hunky-dory as it girds its loins for the continental event, which is their one final opportunity to seal a berth in the 2014 World Cup.

Yes, the 9th Asia Cup may be still three weeks away (it starts on August 24), but the team management will be sweating over the fitness of talented striker Gurwinder Singh Chandi.

The 20-year-old forward has been out of competitive action for more than six months now following an ankle injury sustained during the inaugural Hero Hockey India League (HIL).

Chandi, who turned out in the famous green jersey for the Sardar Singh-led Delhi Waveriders during the HIL, where his team subsequently finished runners-up, has been sorely missed in the Indian forward line in recent times.

Indian team took part in three tournaments – the Hockey World League Round 2 event in New Delhi last February, the 22nd Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh last March and the Hockey World League Round 2 event in Rotterdam last June sans the services of Gurwinder Singh Chandi.

Hockey India sources say Chandi has been hitting the training drills but still remains a doubtful starter for the Asia Cup.

Of course, no one in Hockey India will publicly admit that he won’t be fit in time for the 9th Asia Cup, but his inclusion first in the 48 probables and later in the pruned list of 33, does infuse hope that he might just book the ticket to Ipoh.

Chandi still has time on his hands, but one is not sure whether he will able to achieve peak fitness and form ahead of the 9th Asia Cup.

The nippy striker’s return to the national side is imperative given the fact that the team is already missing Danish Mujtaba, who was the stop-gap Indian captain for the 22nd Sultan Azlan Shah Cup – he recently underwent a knee surgery and will be out of action for the remainder of 2013.

Even Akashdeep Singh has been also been ruled out of the continental event owing to a shin injury.

With the selectors not naming the experienced Shivendra Singh in the 48 Asia Cup probables, and someone like Tushar Kandker being cold-shouldered consistently since the 2012 London Olympics, the team will be lacking in experience.

SV Sunil is the only striker with some degree of experience, which makes Chandi’s return to the side even more crucial.

Of course- a half-fit Chandi won’t be a right recipe for the team, but hockey fans will be hoping that a fully-fit Chandi will board the flight to Ipoh. Indian hockey will warmly welcome his return!